Section 3: Chapter 14, From Generation to Generation Summary and Analysis

All the factors considered so far as reasons for civic disengagement have been inconclusive. They all probably contribute to civic disengagement, but they don't fully explain it. Age is one factor that could be a predictor. Civic engagement is not equal across age groups and it is second to education in terms of predicting civic engagement. Older individuals are much more likely to be engaged than younger people.

To understand if age is a contributor, Putnam argues that both life cycle patterns and generational effects have to be considered. Life cycle patterns would lead to less involvement at certain points in time as demands piled up and people had less time. Various forms of civic engagement peak at different periods of time in the average person's life. For example, participation in...