ABSTRACT

The aim is to explore whether notions such as ‘battle’ or even ‘war of generations’ actually reflect general reality. Do generations mainly quarrel and fight? Where do we find more conflict? What are reasons for intergenerational controversy? For example, this chapter investigates whether the ‘strain hypothesis’ offers a suitable approach to analysing conflict. Do family members with little financial means and greater health problems report disputes with parents and adult children more frequently? Furthermore, connections between family conflict and the welfare state are investigated. Do more social benefits come with fewer disputes amongst parents and children and are there connections between family conflict and social stratification?