Gen Zers are facing professional and financial pressures, high rates of loneliness and depression, and now fears of a relationship derailing their lives. According to a study from Brigham Young University’s Wheatley Institute in Provo, Utah, and the nonprofit Institute for Family Studies, only about 1 in 3 young men and 1 in 5 young women between the ages of 22 and 35 said they were confident in their ability to approach a romantic interest.
Risk Aversion and Dating
Experts say that this risk aversion is causing Gen Zers to miss out on connections. Paul Eastwick, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and director of the attraction and relationships research laboratory, notes that people have always faced the fear of rejection, but now it’s amplified by social media. Richard Weissbourd, an American child and family psychologist and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, adds that learning to have a good relationship is a really important task, and that it’s essential to take some risks to form connections.
Gen Zers are also perceiving more dangers in life than previous generations, according to Gabriel Rubin, a professor of justice studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey. This risk aversion is a behavioral tendency to avoid taking risks as much as possible in favor of a guaranteed outcome, even if that decision results in a smaller payoff than the riskier option.
The Impact of Social Media
Social media has turned rejection into a public spectacle, making it even more daunting for Gen Zers to take risks. Dating apps have also changed the way people approach relationships, allowing users to match with others without taking the risk of in-person rejection. However, this lack of interaction can make it harder to form meaningful connections.
Experts agree that taking some risks is necessary for forming connections and having good relationships. While being risk-averse can have some positive aspects, such as lower rates of teen pregnancy and a focus on protecting one’s peace and work-life balance, it can also lead to negatives, such as diminishing one’s availability to new relationships and good relationships.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
