Who is Idealists from Generations and what is their importance?

The idealist cohort-group is born as a secular crisis is ending. As children, they are nurtured and indulged, the fawns of Civics and Reactives, who have seen the crisis through and who want to protect these youngsters from the reality of the world, particularly its painful parts. They approach coming-of-age with stark criticism of their elders, particularly the institutions that the elders have built, a criticism which can often result in behaviors, attitudes and activities which shock the adult world. Idealists, however, are looking for spiritual self-discovery. Elders fear they have been far too permissive, but the criticism and rebellion launch an important social movement—a Spiritual Awakening.

As they pass into the emerging adulthood phase of their lives, Idealists become uncharacteristically narcissistic, developing an attitude which is rather selfish and activities which promote their own well-being over the well-being of society as a whole. There is some breaking into factions at this point, as individualism is preferred; some enter professions that allow them to function independently (attorneys, doctors, teachers, etc), while others strike out on their own as entrepreneurs. By midlife, this group is beginning to be a bit more cohesive around moral principles, but again fragments between traditional spiritual principles of established religions or "new age" spiritual principles, which are seen as a bit aberrant. One group generally dominates, and, as Idealists move into elderhood, they become the moral force of society, condemning behaviors and attitudes they once trumpeted as youth. The most famous Idealist groups during American history thus far are probably the Transcendentalists during the Civil War Cycle and the current Boomers of the Millennial Cycle.