Absolutely, raxy! because it isn't the year or period itself that causes any effects, its the circumstances prevailing WITHIN said time periods and such modifiers as the reasons for them and how they are reacted to, which are going to cause end effects; not simply 'oh, XYZ is from ABC generation', when they were born only influences what kinds of environment they are exposed to and in and of itself is not a direct causative agency.
As for smaller trends winthin larger ones, i agree; on the grounds that unless one specific factor is so highly determinative as to outcome, to in and of itself be the direct cause, the cause of any effect is likely to be an aggregate of multiple interplaying causes and effects of lesser magnitude, IMO its neither birth year or 'generational block', but the specific interplay of factors most prevalent in the environment of a given individual which relate to that individual.
