Technological Epochs and Generational Identity: Mapping Human Cohorts to Technological Shifts Amidst Biological Constancy

Abstract

This paper argues that generational cohorts from the Silent Generation to Generation Alpha are best understood through technological epochs rather than arbitrary chronological boundaries. Human biology has remained virtually unchanged over the last century, yet each generation has developed within distinct technological environments that shape cognition, behavior and cultural identity. By mapping generational boundaries to major inflection points in technological adoption, this study proposes a biologically grounded and empirically supported framework for understanding generational identity as a function of technological exposure. This model reframes generational theory by emphasizing environmental context over biological or sociological determinism, providing a predictive framework for interpreting the traits of future cohorts, including the anticipated “Generation Synthetica.”