In my research on generational differences, I came across a work by Morris Massey. His main theory is: “what you are, is where you were when” (the “where” refers to the years of your majority; the “when” to significant events that occur during that period of time). For example, if he came of age during the JFK years, he would have a very different view of government than those who grew up under later administrations.

Recent political contests and the start of the New Year brought Massey’s theory to mind for me, since 25 years ago, in 1983, I was right in the middle of high school. So I took a look at the significant events that shaped my views and those of my peers who came of age during the much maligned, but surprisingly progressive 1980s.

pop culture — In 1983, Madonna blew “Like a Virgin” onstage. These days, this seems like an almost tame way of presenting yourself compared to the Spears sisters’ rallying cry of “Oops, I did it over and over and yeah, do it one more time.” Of course, back then Paris was just a city; anklets were just jewelry; and the only Ritchie we knew was crooning “Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady.”

Twenty-five years ago, before satellite radio and iTunes, Sting was a cop who watched every breath we took, and John Mellencamp was still a Cougar. At the box office, Tom Cruise got his first taste of “Risky Business,” Matthew Broderick performed “War Games,” and Jennifer Beals had us ripping off our hoodies and dancing like crazy—a “Flashdance” trend most of us would like to forget. . . In early 1983, the Academy honored “Gandhi” at the head of a nation; Richard Gere Taking Debra Winger “Where We Belong”; Dustin Hoffman dressing as a woman; and an alien calling home.

On the small screen, long before “American Idol” produced pop stars and women united by “Sex and the City,” we watched “Fame” and followed friends “Kate & Allie” and “Cagney & Lacey.” However, not all female TV characters were friends, as 1983 was the year that Joan Collins and Linda Evans had their famous fall into the lily pond on “Dynasty.” (I’m still waiting for a modern day rematch with Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. That would be an episode of “Survivor” worth watching.)

A quarter of a century ago, OJ was still competing for rental cars, not rental cops. We had Michael Jackson in awe, instead of “yuck…” Ozzy was the only Osbourne. Rod Stewart and Woody Allen had relationships with women old enough to know better, and we still believed that Princess Diana had married Prince Charming.

In hindsight, life was pretty innocent back then. However, there was a hint of things to come as 1983 marked the year that the death of Karen Carpenter ushered in anorexia and a French scientist discovered HIV.

Technology — Today I watch TV on my computer, take pictures with my camera, surf the Internet on my phone, and download music from the Internet. But it wasn’t until 1983 that Microsoft Word was first distributed, compact discs were released, and Motorola introduced mobile phones to the public. Back then, a blackberry was just a fruit; a blue tooth would mean a call to the dentist; and the most sought after holiday gift was not a video game, but a Cabbage Patch Kid who didn’t even get a second life as an avatar in an online community.

All of that would soon change, as 1983 was the year that the ARPANET began using the Internet Protocol, helping to create the Internet.

Political/Legal — In 1983, the Reagan administration focused on the Soviets, “Star Wars” and “just saying no.” Congress came together to create Martin Luther King Day, and Jesse Jackson announced his intention to run for president. Universal and Sony were fighting in the Supreme Court over the videotaping of television broadcasts. (If they only knew what that little-known internet thingy would throw at them.)

Women’s rights were at a fever pitch in 1983. Sally Ride ventured into space, and just two years after appointing the first female justice, the Supreme Court limited the power of state and local governments to restrict access to legal abortions and ruled that employers must treat men. and women alike in the provision of health benefits. Not surprisingly, just a year later, presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate.

1983 was also a year that saw the end of the wars as the US withdrew from Grenada and 125 million of us tuned in for the final episode of “M*A*S*H.”

retrospective summary — Looking back, I was fortunate to grow up in an era of relative innocence, innovation, opportunity, and optimism. Although I must confess that I may have become a bit naive. You see, in 1983, he was living in Maryland and rooting for the Washington Redskins when they won the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Orioles, who later that year won the World Series. I thought hometown winning streaks lasted forever.

Looking forward, I hope my son learns as I learned that even when winning streaks come to an end and society seems to be moving in the wrong direction, it can be just as rewarding to cheer on the underdogs, the risk-takers, the explorers, and the dreamers who upset the status quo and shake up the world as we know it.