I think that most people were still in “survivor” mode – meaning that everyone was happy to be alive and frum. When a simcha happened, they were just happy that there was a simcha. Granted you may have spent alot on the simcha, but a bar-mitzvah? Wow – we survived the Nazi’s!
There is a negative side to the survivor mode – there was not a strong emphasis on growing or asking – you just did. There were very few books on growth – I remember being fascinated by Rabbi Ezreil Taubers books – hashkafa. I even attended Discovery with all the non frums just to hear. What I did realize while attending the workshops is that I had Emunah Peshuta- I was taught to believe in Hashem and not question His existence.
I am wondering if other who grew up in the 80’s had similar experiences.