What happened to British reserve?

I don't really think anything has changed - I think young people have always know how to let their hair down. However, I did find this explanation of British Reserve.

The British are known culturally for many things, one of them “reserve”. Reserve relates to the general disinclination to show emotion, feelings or to act in any way that could be viewed as slightly off-centre. The cultural concept heavily correlated with the sense of privacy the British hold.

As a result of British reserve you will note that language is heavily tempered and gestures are restrained. Neutrality and diplomacy in communication are seen as necessary components of courtesy. British reserve does not mean that Brits are boring, lifeless and unemotional. It simply means that in British society people are trained from school-age to be self-contained and not to be open emotionally.

Having read that I am not sure I want to keep it. It seems incredibly old fashioned to me.

It is just 'not British'

Or is it, has the British psyche changed?

Yes, the days of polite applause and retrained public behaviour seem to have gone. Rowdy behaviour started on football terraces (and was contained there for a long time) but has now spread via the pub and telly to the high street and everyday life. Shouting, jostling and jeering are commonplace and can be quite intimidating. Increased public alcohol consumption is another factor, as is the bad example of Parliament during PMQs. Sadly, this has now all gone too far to change.

rosequartz being a cynical old bat, many people have received free tickets to watch shows and possibly feel duty bound to follow orders such as when to boo or clap now. It maybe our generation which has retained some British reserve.

I think the audience are 'whipped up' to be extravagant and to make a lot of noise. It annoys me at times when it's obviously on cue. I haven't been in a tv audience myself and it will be interesting to hear from those that have.