Struggling to understand residents

So I’m a nontraditional student that is in a different generation from most of the medical students and/or residents I work with. Frequently, I’m closer in age to the attending. I haven’t felt very worried about attendings, because I feel like I understand their priorities, what they want, and I feel like I know who I am, so I receive direct criticism as more useful information than a judgement on me as a person. If an attending is trying to be mean (rare) I usually just see it for what it is and it doesn’t cause me much distress (it’s not like they are coming for me in the parking lot later, lol).

Where I get REALLY confused is residents. I do not understand what sets them off. I think my attempts to be friendly, courteous, and polite are not enough. They seem to feel threatened easily, and I could use some pointers from younger people about practical ways to put them at ease about me. I don’t mind the age gap, and I don’t get confused about who knows more medicine. But I feel pretty well actualized in every other aspect of my life at this age…and I think that is misinterpreted. It’s also not something I can undo.