The Study Of Generational Stereotype Based On The New Generation

The generational difference can’t be ignored since more and more “post-80s” came into workplace. The generational difference exists objectively, while the understanding of those differences and characteristics vary from people to people, which construct the stereotype of this generation. Those stereotype will influenced peoples’ cognition and attitude to these generations. With the trend of increasing diversity in Chinese workforce, this paper explored and tested the existence and mechanism of stereotype of new generation in organization.The studies include two levels: the new generation and traditional generation. The stereotype influence peoples’ cognition and attitude to these new generation; and influence peoples’ behaviors when they contact with new generation. From perspective of new generation, when new generation experience and perceived those stereotype about themselves, their cognition of themselves and related behavior in organization will be influenced.The study 1 tested the existence of stereotype of new generation. The results indicated that subjects have significant stereotype of new generation. Furthermore, the paper analyzed both the internal attribution and external attribution and found that the subjects inclined to internal attribution when there was an inconsistence between the behavior descriptions and the generational stereotype.The study 2 explored the effects of stereotype of new generation on attitudes of traditional generation. Research designed 3 groups to explore effects of the different content of stereotype. the results revealed that the different content of stereotype influenced attitude of traditional generation significantly. The subjects in the positive priming group have manifest higer attitude to new generation, while the subjects in the negative priming group have lower attitude to new generation. The correlation and regression analysis represented that the attitude influence the behaviors incline that traditional generation want to select new generation as team member.The study 3 tested the effect of meta-stereotype of new generation on theirselves attitude and behavior. The results represented that the meta-stereotype and the extent that new generation self-stereotyped influenced their self-concept. The effect of interaction of those two variables was significant. Furthermore, the self-concept will influence the OCB through perceived inclusion. The perceived inclusion is complete mediator. The effects on the social network of new generation is not significant.The paper enriches the theoretical foundations of generational difference and is useful for guiding the practice on managing generational differences.