ABSTRACT
Introduction Intergenerational relations are in a state of transition that is historically unprecedented. Changing attitudes to adult ageing and perspectives that are largely generationally driven have contributed to a particular form of twenty-first century uncertainty concerning age and intergenerational relationships. Under such conditions, it is easy for resources that are emotional and social in form as well as economic, to appear scarce and act as grounds for conflict as well as fostering protective bonds between members who perceive themselves as belonging to the same group. In response to this historical juncture, we have started a discussion on what has been called Generational Intelligence. The notion of age and generation are closely linked and both are by degrees socially created. What we recognize as age-groups reflect the social construction of divisions based on chronological age and vary from context to context in their salience and boundaries. Similarly, we are placed in generations by historical contexts and shared experiences that are created from outside individuals, who find themselves swept into a series of associations and divisions that shape their experiences of themselves and others. Family, as a marker of lineage, again depends on salience and context to define its influence and its power to direct individual lives. Nevertheless, we argue that the path to negotiating these complex social interactions can begin from increased self-understanding, which frees social actors from their immersive power, and creates the possibility of novel, yet sustainable, critical directions.
