Generational Gap

A few days ago I was at the neighbourhood grocery store buying my weekly allowance of dark chocolate (I indulge and as such the allowance is not small). While waiting for the shopkeeper to hand over the chocolates I noticed an elderly gentleman possibly around 70 something walk in with his son, the son looked to be late 30s. The son asked for a dozen eggs which were produced faster than the chocolates and the son also asked for a bag. At this juncture everything seemed like normal. All of a sudden I heard the elderly gent say something in a language I could only identify as one of the southern languages of India. He sounded harsh. My immediate thought was maybe he is angry that the son had not got a bag. It wasn’t that at all. The gentleman took the tray of eggs from the son hand and demonstrated a way to put the tray in the bag and carry it. I smiled, thinking to myself “a dad will always be a dad”. They left , I collected my chocolates , paid up and started walking home. While walking I started to think about the possibilities of why a generational gap can seem as though the older generation is unwilling to do things in another way; also thought about the possible emotions that the younger generation might have in similar situations. 

Could think of quite a few reasons for the reluctance of the older generation. 

1. Generational perspective - there is a reluctance to try something using what could be a new or a novel approach. This is especially true when it comes to the use of technology. 
2. Experienced skepticism - the fact that the older generation has done something in a repeated pattern, using a single approach, results in what can only be described as a belief that any other way is bound to fail. It is this fear of failure due to the past experience of success using a single pattern of doing something. 
3. Control and authority- Shifting from being the authority figure to taking guidance from their younger generation can challenge their sense of identity and pride. It is not easy to let go due to a feeling that using the method of the younger generation diminishes their own influence or relevance.
4. Communication gap - the older generation may not fully grasp the rationale behind the younger generations methods due to insufficient explanation or a lack of interest in learning.
5. Emotional blockers - ego, pride in their own ways without a willingness to learn or accept the younger generation’s ways. 
6. Identity crisis - the older generation fear that adopting new methods makes their own knowledge and skills irrelevant, which can feel disempowering.

There are more reasons for sure but I fell that these six standout. The impact on the younger generation is something I will write about in the future( need to organise the mental notes in a better manner before putting them to paper). 

Do you have any observations to share 

C