Why are Americans so depressed: The paradox of progress

Author: (American) Eastbrook
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Behind the luxurious life, it suggests that Westerners adopt the perspective of positive psychology to discover a happier life. To some extent, it is like recommending people to lose weight. No matter how many scientific studies pile up on the table to prove that losing a few pounds will make you healthier, how many people can resist the desire to eat another piece of candy. Similarly, there is a stack of scientific studies proving that tolerance, gratitude, or an optimistic mindset are beneficial to you, but many people are still trapped in dissatisfaction. Perhaps, this negative mindset is as "cheap" as candy and is so easily obtainable. Tolerance, gratitude, optimism, and related mental states all require effort to achieve and are not innate. On the contrary, it is easy to adopt a life outlook of complaining. If you seek happiness, you may be in vain; if you seek dissatisfaction, you will surely achieve it. In this sense, a life attitude of resentment can easily make people feel satisfied and comfortable. Therefore, there are some people who, if their dissatisfaction miraculously disappears, would feel very uncomfortable, even angry. Today's Western culture encourages dissatisfaction, accumulates grievances, and hinders the positive emotions that should bring people a higher quality of life, resulting in people finding it difficult to achieve happiness. It seems that human evolution has made us accustomed to thinking about the worst—although its intention was to easily succumb in the competition of survival of the fittest—to the point where society now subconsciously forms a counterforce; encouraging complaints and stifling any hint of happiness. The principle of survival of the fittest is not just an evolutionary advantage of prehistoric times, but it may even be meaningful today. For example, terrorists have found that a vigilant and easily angered America is more likely to become an enemy in confrontation than a carefree country. However, to be dissatisfied with a wealthy life, like modern families who work hard but spend money on idle items, is just as bad for us and society as being overweight. Our bodies could be healthier than they are now. Our brains and minds should be healthier than they are now. Is this trend in modern society unstoppable or can it be changed? The method of change will not be just persuasion but the integration of societal values, giving those in Western countries who are blessed yet dissatisfied, the sense of satisfaction they actually do not lack. One possibility for change is that Western countries are currently in a phase of indulging in wealth and dissatisfaction, and this phase will end for its own reasons. As Robert Lane pointed out, modern industrial societies "may need to go through an extreme stage of individualism and materialism to reach the necessary level of abundance before they can once again discover the benefits of family and friends." Since the 19th century, Western countries have been formulating modern economic policies with a focus on maximizing production and consumption. This was undoubtedly correct at the time, as abundant goods allowed people to obtain them at lower prices, which helped improve the standard of living for the average person. Now, the ordinary people in Western society enjoy longevity, health, civilization, and