The benefits of conscientiousness are one of the reasons why I think a some of the recommendations for how to deal with the boy crisis in education, like moving away from homework, might be counterproductive in the long run. Yes, girls might be more naturally conscientious than boys, but the fact that it is on the decline indicates that it is also a trait that can be inculcated, and having an education system that does so would benefit everyone.
I recall a few months ago someone from Europe was in these comments making the argument that our system of homework in the US doesn't do anything to aid conscientiousness. They apparently don't have that system in Europe -- homework is voluntary and doesn't contribute to your grade. I personally hate our system's emphasis on homework, so I'll admit I have a bias towards the view that moving away from homework is fine.
If you wanted to boost conscientiousness through a change to public education, my first thought is to do what they do in Japan: make the kids responsible for cleaning and trash pickup on a daily basis to keep their schools functioning.
I'm open to that argument--I hated doing homework as a kid, and I would prefer to keep school at school rather than have it spill over into home life and cut into kids' free time, which is probably contributing to the rise in neuroticism--and I also like your idea, if for no other reason than it might teach kids that there is no work that is "beneath" them.
But either way, inculcating conscientiousness is something schools should try to do, even if that might be "girl-coded." And schools should also encourage kids to be willing to take risks, something usually seen as "boy-coded." Have to think about how to do that one right, though.
High in neuroticism, low in conscientiousness, and low in agreeableness is one of the worst combinations somebody can have. They perceive the world as threatening and they struggle with impulsivity, which makes them hate the world even more, and are resistant to people trying to help them. They are caught in a cycle where their negative emotions fuel impulsive actions, which in turn create negative consequences (damaged relationships, job loss), further validating their pessimistic and hostile worldview and feeding their neuroticism.
I believe that high neuroticism and lower conscientiousness is one of the divides between liberals and conservatives, so I wonder how much of the lower conscientiousness phenomenon is a biproduct of the increasingly progressive politics and culture of the past 20 years. Then there is also the question of how much of this is nature - are the people who increasingly make up the younger cohort in the West from ethnic/racial backgrounds that are lower in conscientiousness? My guess is yes, although this would be something that that is probably verboten to discuss, as it's yet more ammunition against mass immigration.
I suspect that conscientiousness has dropped among people regardless of party affiliation for the past few decades, mediated largely in part from advances in digital distractions. The MAGA base doesn’t have the conscientiousness of Reagan’s base, or even Romney’s base.
The benefits of conscientiousness are one of the reasons why I think a some of the recommendations for how to deal with the boy crisis in education, like moving away from homework, might be counterproductive in the long run. Yes, girls might be more naturally conscientious than boys, but the fact that it is on the decline indicates that it is also a trait that can be inculcated, and having an education system that does so would benefit everyone.
I recall a few months ago someone from Europe was in these comments making the argument that our system of homework in the US doesn't do anything to aid conscientiousness. They apparently don't have that system in Europe -- homework is voluntary and doesn't contribute to your grade. I personally hate our system's emphasis on homework, so I'll admit I have a bias towards the view that moving away from homework is fine.
If you wanted to boost conscientiousness through a change to public education, my first thought is to do what they do in Japan: make the kids responsible for cleaning and trash pickup on a daily basis to keep their schools functioning.
I think in Europe, your grade is still commonly your final exam, something I don't think many Americans would go for.
I'm open to that argument--I hated doing homework as a kid, and I would prefer to keep school at school rather than have it spill over into home life and cut into kids' free time, which is probably contributing to the rise in neuroticism--and I also like your idea, if for no other reason than it might teach kids that there is no work that is "beneath" them.
But either way, inculcating conscientiousness is something schools should try to do, even if that might be "girl-coded." And schools should also encourage kids to be willing to take risks, something usually seen as "boy-coded." Have to think about how to do that one right, though.
High in neuroticism, low in conscientiousness, and low in agreeableness is one of the worst combinations somebody can have. They perceive the world as threatening and they struggle with impulsivity, which makes them hate the world even more, and are resistant to people trying to help them. They are caught in a cycle where their negative emotions fuel impulsive actions, which in turn create negative consequences (damaged relationships, job loss), further validating their pessimistic and hostile worldview and feeding their neuroticism.
I believe that high neuroticism and lower conscientiousness is one of the divides between liberals and conservatives, so I wonder how much of the lower conscientiousness phenomenon is a biproduct of the increasingly progressive politics and culture of the past 20 years. Then there is also the question of how much of this is nature - are the people who increasingly make up the younger cohort in the West from ethnic/racial backgrounds that are lower in conscientiousness? My guess is yes, although this would be something that that is probably verboten to discuss, as it's yet more ammunition against mass immigration.
I suspect that conscientiousness has dropped among people regardless of party affiliation for the past few decades, mediated largely in part from advances in digital distractions. The MAGA base doesn’t have the conscientiousness of Reagan’s base, or even Romney’s base.
Those charts from the FT article are grim. But I recall an essay from a few months ago: it has never been easier to be above average. Rings true.
Yes.