the necessary conditions for people to live lives full of disappointment despite the appearance of prosperity
Being born in America is something akin to winning the life lottery. It presents one with significant privileges not present in most parts of the globe. Imagine if our ancestors could jump in a time machine and travel forward 100 years to present-day America. They would be surprised by the remarkable advancements we have made. This period is arguably the greatest and most prosperous to be alive in the history of civilization. We can get drive up to a window and get food that was prepared in a matter of minutes. We drive cars that we can warm up remotely so that we never have to sit on a cold seat. The younger generations will never know a world that doesn’t include free delivery of anything you can conceive of, to your front door in two days or less. Travelers can board an airplane and be on the other side of the planet in a day and grandparents can watch every step of the way as their grandchildren grow even though they live across the country. There is no doubt that life is now more comfortable when compared to that of previous generations. All individuals have a realistic opportunity to achieve prosperity. However, despite all these privileges, American’s remain unhappy. In this essay, an evaluation of the underlying reasons for the unhappiness will occur. The thesis is that instant gratification, entitlement, unrealistic expectations, and individualism have created the necessary conditions for people to live lives full of disappointment despite the appearance of prosperity.
One of the main reasons for the misery is the feeling of entitlement. According to Grubbs & Exline, entitlement refers to “individual’s propensity to bestow upon the self certain rights” (1204). It is vital to evaluate the issue from a historical perspective to understand the reasons for the high levels of self-entitlement among Americans. The nation became known as the land of opportunity because it was built on the values of hard work and determination. Consequently, America conquered the world, both economically and socially. For instance, during the age of industrialization, it led the globe in establishing large scale manufacturing systems in industries like steel. It also created the largest railway network in the world at the time. In the early 20th century, it pioneered the commercial production of vehicles, when the concept of an automobile was not yet widespread in the rest of the world. The successes of Americans were not merely at a societal level since individuals also enjoyed significant levels of success. As an individualistic society, this nation’s citizens have historically been self-reliant and hardworking. Accordingly, this outcome led to a rapid rise in the levels of disposal incomes, a factor that entrenched the notion of American consumerism. This occurrence created a perception of prosperity and people took great pride in their achievements. Additionally, it created the idea that things were easy for citizens of the country.
However, towards the end of the 20th century, things began to change for Americans. According to Quinn & Kitchen, a debate has been rife over the declining power and influence of the U.S globally (8). The authors assert that America’s dominance has reduced because of the rise of other states, especially China. Therefore, the premium incomes Americans used to earn have also decreased because of the shift in economic, political, and military monopoly to other parts of the world. Therefore, privileges that the people used to earn easily now require a lot more effort; yet, many are not willing to work extra hard to achieve what was normal in the past. Essentially, the glory of the past created a sense of expectation without having to work hard for it; yet, times have changed. Such an outcome sets us up for disappointment because it leads to trait entitlement — a psychological disorder (Grubbs & Exline 1205). It leads to one feeling special even when no justification for such an emotion exists; hence, causing narcissism. Consequently, if members of society do not reciprocate as expected, the affected person becomes miserable, a factor that explains the rising levels of unhappiness among Americans. The consequence of such emotions is that it leads to behaviors like sexual and domestic abuse, excessive drug use, and mass shootings — all of which have become prevalent in the U.S.
Having unrealistic expectations is another factor that contributes to our society’s high levels of sadness. Grubb & Exline add that unmanageable expectations are closely associated with entitlement, a factor that leads to disappointment (1204). The two previous centuries were full of optimism for Americans. For instance, in the 20th century, expectations were high concerning issues like racial, gender, and economic equality. The civil rights and feminist movements illustrate hope. Nonetheless, the nation appears to have rolled back the gains made in the previous centuries. Currently, the American society is unequal more than it has ever been, especially from a socio-economic perspective. According to Schaeffer, the top 20% of the country’s high-income earning population controls over half of the economic output (n.p) while the U.S is the worst performer in terms of economic equality among its G7 peers. Racial inequality also remains persistent despite the gains made in the past century. For example, King & Erickson argue that disenfranchisement among African-Americans has led to reduced political participation, a factor that also affects their economic and social standing (799). Therefore, the realization that the benefits most hoped to gain from the American society would not suffice has created a sad community.
The culture of individualism is also a major cause of unhappiness in the American society. Such a society is one in which personal achievements are valued more than those of the collective. ‘Hofstede’s insights’ is a scientific ranking of the various aspects of a country like its closeness to power, indulgence, and long-term orientation. The score of the U.S regarding individualism is 91, the highest among all the countries surveyed (Hofstede’s Insights n.p). The individualism has led to a society full of determined, ambitious, and hardworking people, a factor that has led to individual prosperity. However, various publications contend that wealth does not equate to happiness. In a study done by Ford et al., the level of satisfaction and well-being was higher in collectivist societies when compared to individualistic ones like America (1054). The assertion is true because while we have become wealthier, we have become lonelier and more disconnected from our social imperatives. Yet, human beings are social beings. Accordingly, our inclination towards individualism appears to be in contrast with the natural order of things, a situation that makes us less happy.
Nevertheless, not all individuals agree that Americans are more unhappy relative to the past and the rest of the globe. For some, the appearance of unhappiness is not unique to the U.S. Others argue that the current society is not any different from the previous one. Instead, they hold that means of communication like social media have become more common; hence, making individual express their feelings more and to a broader audience. The lack of such convenient mediums of communication in the past implied that more people kept their genuine emotions to themselves; thus, creating a perception that everything was fine. However, an objective assessment of the situation suggests otherwise. First, in the past, America was a leader in setting societal trends; consequently, its outcomes regarding happiness should not be compared to the rest of the world — far greater expectations from Americans exist. Secondly, the improvement in access and convenience of communication technology does not account for the increase in vices that denote disappointment and sadness. For instance, the rates of mass murders and domestic violence were not as prevalent as is the case presently, a factor that indicates a decline in the levels of happiness.
In conclusion, extensive evidence exists to illustrate that Americans are increasingly unhappy despite growing levels of material prosperity for many of them. Going forward, Americans need to make changes in their lifestyles if they hope to lead much more fulfilling lives. First, we need to manage our expectations regarding what the government, globe, and society owe us. Instead, we should show more gratitude for what we have. Secondly, we need to balance our levels of entitlement with the input we make. For instance, it would be folly for one to expect a reward without making any effort towards achieving it. More importantly, we need to realize that the globe is changing. Therefore, what used to work in the past may no longer be useful. Thus, we should reinvent ourselves to ensure that our social, political, and economic activities are in line with the realities of the day.
Works Cited
Ford, Brett Q. et al. “Culture Shapes Whether The Pursuit Of Happiness Predicts Higher Or Lower Well-Being.”. Journal Of Experimental Psychology: General, vol 144, no. 6, 2015, pp. 1053-1062. American Psychological Association (APA), doi:10.1037/xge0000108. Accessed 9 Apr 2020.
Grubbs, Joshua B., and Julie J. Exline. “Trait Entitlement: A Cognitive-Personality Source Of Vulnerability To Psychological Distress.”. Psychological Bulletin, vol 142, no. 11, 2016, pp. 1204-1226. American Psychological Association (APA), doi:10.1037/bul0000063. Accessed 9 Apr 2020.
Hofstede’s Insights. “Country Comparison – Hofstede Insights: United States”. www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/the-usa/.
King, Bridgett A., and Laura Erickson. “Disenfranchising The Enfranchised”. Journal Of Black Studies, vol 47, no. 8, 2016, pp. 799-821. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1177/0021934716659195. Accessed 9 Apr 2020.
Schaeffer, Katherine. “6 Facts About Economic Inequality In The U.S.”. Pew Research Center, 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/07/6-facts-about-economic-inequality-in-the-u-s/.
Quinn, Adam, and Nicholas Kitchen. “Understanding American Power: Conceptual Clarity, Strategic Priorities, And The Decline Debate”. Global Policy, vol 10, no. 1, 2018, pp. 5-18. Wiley, doi:10.1111/1758-5899.12609. Accessed 9 Apr 2020.