Generations last the length of time of one phase of life--the same length of time as a turning. Like turnings, generations come in four different archetypes

Prophet, Nomad, Hero and Artist

conventional, powerful, and institutionally driven

profound trust in authority

grow up as the increasingly protected children of an Unraveling, come of age as the Heroic, team-working youth of a Crisis, become energetic and hubristic mid-lifers during a High and become the powerful elders who are attacked in the next Awakening

G.I. Generation that fought World War II is an example of a Hero generation. Millennials are expected to emerge as the next generation of this example

Artists are subtle, indecisive, emotional and compromising, often having to deal with feelings of repression and inner conflict

grow up as the over-protected children of a Crisis

come of age as the sensitive young adults of a High

rebel as indecisive midlife leaders during an Awakening

become the empathic elders of an Unraveling