Poleva N.S., Yurchenko N.I. Peculiarities of Psychological Development of Generations Z and Alpha

The relevance of our study is determined by the increasing influence of digital technologies on the cognitive and personal development of younger generations. The differentiation of this impact and the specifics of digital socialization, changing over time, determine the importance of studying the patterns and phenomenology of psychological development of representatives of two digital generations Z and Alpha.

The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of the features of the cognitive and personal sphere of generations Z and Alpha.

The work included a theoretical and methodological analysis of publications devoted to the problem under study, as well as diagnostic methods aimed at studying the cognitive (Raven's Progressive Matrices) and personal (“Successful Person”, “EGO Strength” and “Structure of Social Identity”) spheres of children and adolescents.

The study sample consisted of 155 respondents – representatives of digital generations Z and Alpha, who were divided into two groups. The first group – schoolchildren (generation Alpha), 61 people (11–15 years old). The second group – representatives of generation Z – 94 students (17–22 years old), were divided into two subgroups – 52 college students (17–20 years old) and 42 university students (19–22 years old).

Empirical data showed that the first group often associates success with material values, while the second is distinguished by deeper personal principles and motives, such as self-realization and social inclusion. Generation Z demonstrates a higher degree of self-awareness and purposefulness, which is reflected in the content of their identity and leading standards. Students have a higher level of intellectual development and cognitive flexibility.

The results of the study show that Generation Alpha is at the stage of forming personal, social and cognitive maturity and has a less stable identity structure and changeable standards of identification, focused primarily on the shortest environment. Generation Z, especially university students, demonstrate a more organized and stable identity structure, abstract thinking, and an orientation toward internal values. Differences between generations are determined by age, level of education, and the digital space that influences their socialization and cognitive development.

Key words: Generations Z and Alpha, digital generations, cognitive and personal development, thinking, intelligence, identity

For citation: Poleva, N.S., Yurchenko, N.I.(2025). Peculiarities of Psychological Development of Generations Z and Alpha // New Psychological Research, No. 3, 126–147. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2025_05_03_06

Acknowledgment

The article was prepared within a state task, project FNRE-2024-0016 “Psychological effects of digitalization of the educational environment: opportunities for cognitive and personal development and socialization risks”.