When I was a kid, 35 seemed like just about the age when people should pre-pay for retirement homes and funerals. My how things have changed….
In another great tidbit from the The New York Times Magazine’s Sixth Annual Year of Ideas, we learn the more academic term for what might otherwise be called the new “sustained immaturity” or “grup” phenomenon (which I blogged about in March): Psychological Neoteny,
The article cites Bruce Charlton, a doctor, psychology professor, and the editor of the Medical Hypotheses journal, who argues that modern life is ever-changing, and the old, narrow/set worldview is no longer as rewarded as it may have been in the past. “In fact, he speculates, the ability to retain youthful qualities, now often seen as folly, may someday be recognized as a prized trait.”
To this, I say: yay!
If your customers are retaining their youthful qualities, as all my “40 is the new 30″ friends seem to be, you should reflect that in the music, writing style/tone, and overall look/feel experience of your brand.
And, since your customers are experiencing psychological neoteny — why don’t you, too? Go with the ever-changing flow and embrace your brand immaturity! I know the old cords and sneakers are in there somewhere….
Andrea,
In my sixth decade, I embrace just about anything that makes me think and act young.
50 IS the new 30! My best friend and I have kid like attitudes and truly live this mantra everyday, “We can DO whatever we want..” Nothing and nobody to stop us.
Pursing all our passions with wreckless abandon! Life is good!
Both divorced, kids on their own course, we have been making career changes, attending school again and plotting and redefining our future… breaking new snow as we plow along. As Edison once said, “There ain’t no rules around here, we’re trying to get things done!”
Nice post, Andrea, and I do love the concept of Psychological Neoteny. Especially since, you know, I’m not getting any younger…lol.
But, as I’ve written about in the past here on this blog, I do see a downside to a culture increasingly skewed toward staying youthful longer — specifically, as we maintain our youth, our kids don’t seem to grow up!
Teens and young adults seem to be maintaining a death grip on adolescence — fueled partly, I think, by our tendency to overparent and infantilize them.
Sure, 40 is the new 30. But increasingly I’m wondering: Is 18 the new 8?
http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2006/06/is_18_the_new_8.html
Ann,
I think we have always had parents who over-parented and infantilized their children. Furthermore, we have sought the Fountain of Youth for as long as our brains and hearts have spoken to each other.
That said, I believe and I think you do, as well, that our first responsibility as parents is to our children. We must guide them and let them grow to become great human beings, who are responsible but free enough to know when and how to have fun.
I suspect I grew up in a different generation from most in this conversation, yet I was taught to hang onto my youth for as long as I could. Perhaps Andrea could have chosen a better word than immaturity, as I remember when I was immature and that state of mind would have either killed me or someone else.
When I party, I party like I was 20, without the synthetic boosters of the ’60s and as long as I am in bed by Midnight. Actually, I don’t party like I did when I’m 2 and haven’t since I was 35. But I have more fun.
No matter how much I party, I still get up and go to work, I remain totally committed to my family and friends, and I never forget the responsibility I have to my clients. But as God is my witness, I plan to party til I drop.
Lewis — I think I have the title of your next book, “You’re Never Too Old to be Immature.”
: )
Though I am not a parent, I definitely see Ann’s point. The “immaturity” of the adult may keep him/her nimble/adapting in certain aspects of life, BUT – when parental duties call, people still need to rally all their experience and wisdom. In the NYT piece, the reference was to the point that what may LOOK like immaturity, according to Bruce Charlton, is perhaps better described as “the retention of youthful attitudes and behaviors into later adulthood.” When you think of it that way, it doesn’t conflict with parenthood as much…
I am happy to hear that so many in this community are embracing it – whatever we call it!
lewis, never too old to rock and roll.
Ann, Have you seen the commercials for the disney cell phone. It’s down right creepy and almost voyeristic.
Drugs, predators, alcohol etc. have caused American parents to take a vigilante approach to parenting and that is then fueled even more by a fear mongering media and government. And now Disney is in the act.
I think an adults’ desire to embrace all that keeps him/her young is healthy as long as he/she remains responsible. I’ll be 44 in January and I feel just as young as ever except now I’m not so frightened of everything.
Being a responsible parent means giving your child responsibility
I think a parent that is not afraid to laugh, play in the mud, and take time for his/herself is a very healthy role model for kids.
Spying on them and fixing everything for your kids will extend their childhood and make them behave exactly the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.
I’m a firm believer that 50 is the new 30. Rock on Augie!
Psychological neoteny is only the beginning. Consider the societal implications of individual neoteny blossoming into a culture. Visit http://www.neoteny.org/?p=214 for details.