Mom's "basket": infantile children dream of inheritance
On social networks, there was talk of popularizing the "no-no" movement in Russia, the domestic equivalent of the Western phenomenon of NEET. This term comes from the English not in education, employment or training — "I do not study, I do not work, I do not improve my skills (I do not develop)." Izvestia figured out what the danger of "no-nishers" is, why the generation of "razvyvashek", growing up, loses motivation for success and whether it is possible to become a professional after a long period of doing nothing.
There is no job
Clinical psychologist and sexologist Sergey Volkov explained to Izvestia that the NEET movement appeared in the late 90s of the last century in the UK.
— This was the name given to young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who did not study, did not work and ended up outside the education systems and the labor market, — the expert explains. — Soon this term began to be used all over the world. At the same time, the concept of NEET is very broad and includes those who are actively looking for but have not yet found a job, and those who are not even trying to find one.
In Japan, NEET is called "hikikomori," which translates to "avoidant," "introverted," says a clinical psychologist. This is the name given to young people who voluntarily isolate themselves from the world, sitting in their parents' house, and completely stop social life. In Spanish-speaking countries, this group is called ni-ni (ni estudia, ni trabaja "no studies, no work"). This option has taken root in our country.
"In the United States, as of 2021, 12.2% of all young people belong to NEET — that's more than 10 million people, more than half of whom are women,— comments Sergey Volkov.
A clinical psychologist cites three reasons for the appearance of NEET. Firstly, people began to live much better, since conditions have developed in society when a healthy adult can afford not to work, and the income of parents is enough to provide for it.
— It was impossible 20 years ago. People could deny work, but by any means they could get a living. They were forced to engage in crime, prostitution, and petty theft for cigarettes. But I couldn't just sit around: in order to survive, I had to do something," says Volkov.
The second reason, according to the expert, is that most of the capital is held by the older generation and sometimes the only way for the young to get it, no matter how gloomy it sounds, is to wait for the death of relatives.
— Starting from the 60s, the possibility of access to the resources necessary for life, such as housing, education, and recreation, has been inexorably decreasing, — says Volkov. — For example, a worker in the USA in the 60s of the last century could earn a house in a year. And for this, a modern young American must not only receive a salary above the market, but also take out a mortgage loan for 25 years.
A similar situation, from the point of view of a clinical psychologist, has also developed in education and the service sector. Young people respond to such total helplessness and hopelessness with anger and an infantile attitude.
— And the third circumstance is certain psychological and neurological traits of a particular personality, — says Sergey Volkov. — All young people are in approximately the same situation, but not everyone decides to do nothing. To do this, a person must have a certain set of beliefs about their own powerlessness, social unfitness and their own worthlessness, perhaps even autism.
According to the expert, NEET supporters are convinced that society rejects them and others discriminate against them. And the model of the old upbringing through suppression and control only reinforces such manifestations.
— All this gives rise to the idea that sounds like this: "You don't accept me into your society, then I won't be your "puppet" on the payroll. I hate your company and everything connected with it. For this, you will feed me!" explains the clinical psychologist.
Happy longevity
Young domestic "nishniks" actually lead a lifestyle typical of pensioners. According to Polina, a 21-year-old Muscovite, they "watch TV shows," read romance and sports novels (there is also such a genre), go for a walk with their dogs, drink coffee with friends at the nearest coffee shop.
— This behavior became possible due to the parents' good earnings and the parenting model, in which the child has no benefit from growing up, — says Sergey Volkov. — All the children's desires were immediately satisfied, and the needs were determined once and for all by adults.
It turns out that if a child grows up, he will lose all privileges and lose much more than he gets. According to Volkov, the position of "mothers" is based not on the welfare of the child, but on the confidence that they know best how it should be. Their children, as a rule, do not even know that they can pour themselves tea and slice bread.
— If everything is predetermined and decided, does it make sense to take the initiative? And young people retain what we call "procedural activity." That is, things that do not require achievement are watching movies, reading a non—educational book, doing a basic minimum of housework, etc.," the clinical psychologist comments.
Psychiatrist Alexey Vilkov also believes that the reluctance to work and study is most often due to the fact that during childhood and adolescence, the offspring's parents were engaged in overprotection, tried to keep everything under their control and chose the child's sphere of interests.
— Such overprotection, as well as the lack of the opportunity to make independent decisions and show personal activity, often leads to the fact that the passive position persists with age. As a result, infantilism and social immaturity remain when boys and girls leave adolescence," the psychiatrist comments.
At the end of the first decade of the new century, the parental race for the success of their children began to gain momentum. Parents do not leave their kids free time, subordinating their day to "educational activities", running around sections, clubs and classes with tutors. Not everyone can withstand such pressure, some have enough strength and motivation just to "run" to graduation.
— Children often lose motivation if their lives are predetermined, and from early childhood there is no right to choose or the right to refuse. They live in an environment where their parents, who are closest to them, convey the idea of "I love you if you do what I want." And then the child finds the only possible way to save himself — to win through inaction," warns Sergey Volkov.
A lot depends on how strong the parent's neck is. But some mothers are even glad that their children are in front of their eyes during their dangerous adolescence and adolescence, rather than wandering the streets in search of adventure. However, the clinical psychologist believes that if we talk about bad company, then NEET is even worse than a street gang.
"Those who find themselves out of work and trying to find work are familiar and understandable to us: we have all been in this group at least once," says Volkov. — But people who have made the decision to give up social life themselves are of great interest to specialists.
Vanilla sky
According to Volkov, the NEET movement has its own hierarchy. The behavior of young children living peacefully for their own pleasure is typical of "vanilla" children from rich families who can afford a carefree life. Joining the NEET for so-called ideological reasons is characteristic of its component, which is called "labor" (real). The "vanilla" ones just enjoy doing nothing — for them it's not an ideology, but a way of life.
The Tru openly declare their views and challenge society. The "real ones" consider it beneath their dignity to communicate with the "vanilla ones" because they "sold out for food." According to Volkov, in essence both categories live the same way, but the behavior of "tru" can be socially dangerous. NEET chat friends do not help each other overcome difficulties, but maintain a certain level of hatred and self-deprecation. It turns out that this group is dragging young people to the social bottom, convincing them that society will never accept them, the expert emphasizes.
— On this basis, there is a polarity of thinking ("black and white consciousness"), which, combined with immaturity and lack of criticism, is quickly radicalized, up to fascization, - comments Sergey Volkov. — NEET is part of the social phenomenon of incels (involuntary celibates — "involuntarily abstaining" (from sex), a subculture with often extremist views). Not all NEETs are incels, but all incels strive to become NEETs. And the statistics of terrorist acts committed by people with these views are growing from year to year. They have no purpose or global idea — only hatred for all people.
A clinical psychologist warns: at some point, a person with weak critical thinking and certain mental problems may believe in the truth of their judgments and commit a terrorist attack.
"All the arson attacks on churches in Norway and the mass killings at schools in the United States were committed by incels with their characteristic mindset and a certain position in society," continues Volkov. — They are often the ones who hit pedestrians. The Incels' "corporate identity" is to leave a manifesto, that is, a note confessing to membership in the movement and hatred of society.
Is eternal youth possible
Fortunately, in Russia, most of those who call themselves "nice people" or lead an appropriate lifestyle are not related to radicals, but simply idlers. Nevertheless, the prospects for such children are bleak.
— So far, we are only guessing what will happen to them. But the experience of Japan, where "hikikomori" has existed for several centuries, has shown that such people become socially maladaptive. There were even cases of starvation deaths," the clinical psychologist comments.
Professional idlers will have to come out of their "hole" sometime and go through a difficult, painful and very tough path of adaptation. From the point of view of a clinical psychologist, it is unlikely that they will be able to get a good social position, because an important time for development has been missed.
— The supporters of this movement have the idea that their parents will support them until their death, and then they will receive an inheritance and will live off these funds. This is a very naive idea, if only because you will have to interact with society to inherit," says Volkov. Social skills are destroyed very quickly, and they are restored with difficulty, there are few prerequisites for the successful socialization of eternal children, the clinical psychologist believes.
— They are irresponsible, they avoid contact themselves, and at the same time they declare their rejection by society. They are physically healthy and can have children. But then they will have to not only solve their problems, which they are not adapted to, but also take care of their offspring. And doubts arise: are they able to provide for their children properly," the expert continues.
According to Alexey Vilkov, for a young man to show independence is always a risk and danger associated with anxiety.
— After a long period of inactivity, of course, it is very difficult to enter adulthood. When adapting to it, unsuitable young people experience extreme stress, they are at risk of neurosis, anxiety, sleep disorders, depressive experiences and other sufferings, up to panic attacks," the psychiatrist comments. "But growing up is still going on — everyone just has their own path, and currently it is longer than it was. earlier.
Work for zoomers
The clinical psychologist is encouraging: if the problem of employment and socialization is only the lack of certain skills, then these skills can be learned at any age. But whether society is ready to accept children who have been "lost" for a long time is a big question.
Nikita Lobanov, President of the International Association of Experts in the Field of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, believes that it is still possible to become a professional after a long period of inactivity. This is possible both with and without formal education, although the path will be different in both cases.
— Education provides a base of systemic knowledge and a diploma is a formal confirmation of the availability of this knowledge, which facilitates employment, — says Lobanov. — However, after a break, you need to update your skills through courses, practice, and networking. And in the absence of education, the emphasis is on self-study, certificates, freelancing and portfolios, especially in areas with a low entry threshold, such as IT, marketing or design, where fundamental scientific knowledge is not required.
In both cases, the expert considers motivation, self-discipline, a gradual start from small projects (low positions) and the use of modern resources (online courses) to be key success factors.
Nikita Lobanov warns that the lack of a diploma can complicate entry into traditional industries, and psychological barriers after a break require clear goals and work on the "impostor syndrome" (a psychological condition in which a person cannot accept his achievements, believes that he does not deserve them).
If professional idlers are still ready to change the course of their lives without dragging out the situation, they are destined to face some difficulties. According to the expert, the attitude of employers towards the younger generation — the so—called zoomers - is ambiguous and often overshadowed by stereotypes. They are not unreasonably called snowflakes, soy or big children.
— The general opinion is that zoomers are moody, demand high salaries from the very first steps, burn out quickly, are not ready for routine work, and often change employers in search of comfort and self-fulfillment. According to research, 15% of employers in 2025 are not sure about the need to hire zoomers or plan to avoid them because of negative experiences," Lobanov comments.
For example, companies complain about their unwillingness to adapt to traditional rules and note high staff turnover — 59% of zoomers are ready to leave due to lack of fulfillment, 57% - due to lack of professional growth.
— But there is another opinion. Zoomers bring unique advantages: digital literacy, flexibility, value orientation such as sustainable development and work—life balance, as well as creativity," comments Nikita Lobanov. — Companies interested in this attract talented representatives of this generation: zoomers now make up up to 27% of the global workforce.
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