My Unpopular Hypothesis: Increasing rates of depression are the product of people responding to a lack of conflict in modern-day first-world countries

With less conflict and more leisure life becomes more purposeless, as there are less heightened emotions and actions. Especially around teenage years, where we realize that we're not unique or the main characters of our own story, but just one among many.

Depression is a way to heighten both the stakes/importance of our everyday lives and experience the intensive emotions we would never feel otherwise.

I think then the best solution for depression is a goal-oriented system, where setting and accomplishing self-made goals fills the purposelessness of everyday life.

Of course, I could easily be wrong. Just an idea I've had for a while.

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Mamapolo2016 · F

Part of it too is that being just-so-bored-with-it-all is part of a pose that can become real. We're too [i]cool[/i] to get excited.

ClanNaFiacaillApWythe · 51-55, M

@Mamapolo2016 Boredome leads to irritation which can lead to impulsivity rather than depression generally except in the case of the boredom associated with a being in a defeated position.

SW-User

You make a fascinating argument, which, if valid, is depressing as all hell.

NativeOregonian · 51-55

Nope, a recent article published in Psychology Today within the past couple of years concluded after a five year study that it had to do with social media likes and dislikes. This article gave reason for facebook to eliminate the thumbs down button.

JaggedLittlePill · 46-50, F

@NativeOregonian nope. It doesn't have to do with that either. One study does not mean the answer is found. One study is just a stepping stone. There must be replication of the study to understand if it yields the same results.

NativeOregonian · 51-55

@JaggedLittlePill It was a five year multination study that was extensively peer reviewed before it was published.

ClanNaFiacaillApWythe · 51-55, M

No. It has to do with people being weaker due to their genetics, upbringing, and environment, and choices.

You are right though about egotists being more likely to be depressed than those who are not egotists.

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