Impact of Fortune: An Exploration
In a society that heavily emphasises and expects happiness, individuals may encounter several mental health risks. This social pressure, which can feel like a mandate or strong expectation to appear or be happy, can lead to increased anxiety, depression, low self-worth, and emotional distress.
This pressure often results in what psychologists call impression management, where individuals compulsively try to control how others perceive them. This constant need to maintain a happy facade can erode their true sense of self, leading to internal conflict between conforming outwardly and maintaining personal authenticity. This conflict, in turn, contributes to mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depressive symptoms.
The impact of this societal norm is further magnified by cultural and social factors. For instance, social media platforms amplify these pressures through constant comparison to curated portrayals of happiness, which can reduce self-esteem and increase feelings of inadequacy or loneliness.
Moreover, rigid social expectations around happiness and success can cause emotional fatigue, stress, and burnout, especially when paired with demanding lifestyles and little time for self-care. The broader psychological theory (self-determination theory) suggests that when people act in line with intrinsic motivation and their own values, mental health is better; conversely, when extrinsic societal pressures dominate, mental health tends to worsen due to feelings of alienation and loss of autonomy.
Another concerning aspect is that social pressure to maintain happiness may mask underlying issues, preventing people from recognising or addressing genuine mental health problems. This lack of acknowledgement can worsen outcomes overall.
Dr. Christian Peter Dogs, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and coach, has observed these issues firsthand. He frequently encounters patients who have been given different diagnoses, highlighting the flexibility in diagnoses within the field of mental health. Dr. Dogs criticises happiness guides, teachers, and the concept of "happiness coercion" for causing harm to people. He perceives happiness as consisting of moments rather than a state.
Despite these challenges, there are instances where people, despite living in simple conditions, radiate immense happiness. The author recalls a couple who, despite their humble surroundings, could laugh with their eyes, and an Italian family who radiated happiness. These instances serve as reminders that happiness is not solely dependent on external factors.
In summary, prescribing happiness as a social norm can be harmful by creating anxiety, depression, and low self-worth from chronic scrutiny and suppression of authentic emotions, leading to compulsive impression management and loss of personal identity, increasing social isolation, loneliness, and emotional fatigue due to unrealistic expectations, reducing autonomy and intrinsic motivation, key factors for psychological well-being, and amplifying mental health stigma by making negative emotions taboo to express or acknowledge.
These dangers highlight the importance of authentic emotional expression, acceptance of a full range of human feelings, and social environments that support intrinsic wellbeing rather than enforced happiness.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, authentic emotional expression and acceptance are crucial for mental health, as they help mitigate the negative effects of impression management and regain personal identity.
- The science of psychology reveals that when people prioritize intrinsic motivation and adhere to their own values as suggested by the self-determination theory, their mental health generally improves, whereas extrinsic societal pressures usually worsen mental health due to feelings of alienation and loss of autonomy.
- Education-and-self-development programs focusing on personal growth and emotional intelligence might provide valuable skills for individuals to cope with societal expectations, navigate their emotions, and foster psychological well-being.
