They score high on external locus of control.
People who believe they’re personally in control of their lives have an internal locus of control. Those who believe that outside forces determine their fate have an external locus of control. The implications of the latter are negative — externals don’t believe they can make their lives better, and tend to blame other people or events for the things that happen to them. In other words, they don’t take responsibility for their outcomes.
They have unrealistic expectations:
They expect to land prestigious jobs that will delight them, and believe they will achieve fame and wealth while still having all the leisure time they want. According to Dr. Twenge, “Many kids today grow up thinking that they will eventually be movie stars, sports figures, or at least rich. …A lot of young people also assume that success will come quickly.” Unfortunately, unrealistic expectations aren’t typically met, and that can be demotivating and lead to depression.