Getting An “A” In Happiness Class

Back in 2019, I wrote an article called “The Problem With Happiness Studies” where I criticized the notion of one universal way to find happiness. That article was written in response to a piece in The New York Times reporting that women are happiest when they are religious housewives. My argument was basically that, although I don’t have an issue with women who are religious housewives and happy as a result, I find the thinking needed to believe this study has anything close to relevant and useful information to be so reductionist it’s insane.

I mention this because recently I was informed of a 12/20/2022 article from KQED with the headline “Young adults are struggling with their mental health. Is more childhood independence the answer?” Of course, young adults today are more independent than ever before — especially in the post-internet age. I’ve talked before about this notion that children today are too mature, well-behaved, and intendent for their own good, but now we’re being told that this good behavior has resulted in them — not wanting to argue as much I think — I don’t know, this article is really confused. It opens by talking about how students today at Kansas State University are now conflict averse — which I agree could be an issue, depending on the context. However, unless you are quite literally Jerome Squalor from book six of A Series of Unfortunate Events, I highly…