5 Reasons Why Our Culture is So Angry

 

Before we can begin to reverse the growing anger in our society, we must first take a good look at where it comes from. It’s impossible to treat an illness if you don’t know its causes. Here are five of the major contributors to the anger in our society and culture today.

 

1) The News

1. The News. It's no secret that the media has been bombarding us with negative news lately, making it seem like we're in a constant state of danger and on the brink of disaster. This creates an environment where anger and fear are justified emotions to have because there's always something to be upset about.

 2. Technology. We carry around these devices that give us access to a world of information and entertainment at our fingertips, but it also trains us to expect instant gratification for everything we do, which makes it hard not to get frustrated when things don't go our way immediately or according to plan. 

3. Self-Esteem. Social media has helped people connect to one another on levels never before possible, but it's also had some unintended consequences for self-esteem. When everyone you follow is so successful, beautiful and happy all the time, it can leave you feeling inadequate and undeserving of love from others. 

4. Parenting Styles: Some parents want their children to be academically successful above all else while others prioritize raising a child who isn't afraid of taking risks or facing failure--both approaches come with their own set of problems related to stress levels and anger management as well as communication styles between parents and kids. 

5. Divorce. Half of all marriages end in divorce, meaning many young people grow up in households without either parent present on a daily basis. In those households, both boys and girls are less likely to understand how to deal with anger or any other difficult emotion because they haven't seen either parent model this skill set; this leads to more irritability and mood swings than if they were living with both parents.

 

2) Social Media

Social media can be a breeding ground for angry, hateful conversations. It's easy to anonymously say things on social media that we wouldn't say in person. It's also easy for people to disagree with one another and turn an argument into a heated debate. Social media can also make us feel like we are part of the conversation when we really don't have anything to contribute or would just prefer not to participate. Social media can also make it hard for us to control our emotions because it is so easy for our thoughts and feelings to get triggered by posts from others. Whether they post something offensive or start an inflammatory comment thread, negative messages are often more prominent than positive ones. There may also be fewer limits on what we share as well as a sense of urgency that makes expressing anger seem more acceptable than showing love or kindness. In general, social media has led many people to think and act impulsively without considering the consequences. These factors all combine to create and perpetuate a culture where anger reigns supreme over other emotions.

 

3) Politics

It's no secret that the United States has a culture of anger. I'm not just talking about the presidential election where every debate seemed to be a low-blow, or the never-ending news cycle of shootings and protests in major cities across the country. Anger has become a way of life for many Americans because we are constantly being bombarded with bad news from every angle. It's overwhelming and it creates this feeling that there's nothing you can do about it, which leads to even more anger. This sense of helplessness combined with an ever-growing feeling of powerlessness breeds a pretty angry populace.

The 5 reasons why our culture is so angry: Fights break out over insignificant things at times. There are people who are so angry all the time they want to hurt others but themselves first. People get really upset when their favorite sports team loses - getting into fights, driving recklessly and drinking too much. Some people find themselves screaming at their kids or spouses over minor infractions like forgetting to clean up after themselves. It seems like everyone wants someone else to fix their problems instead of taking responsibility for what happens next in their own lives . We're either voting in politicians that promise change without delivering, or choosing not to vote because the system is rigged. Even if we want to work on ourselves, there doesn't seem to be any help available. Counseling services have waiting lists and self-help books tell us how great everything will eventually be. I suppose what it comes down to is the idea that it's just how society works, but maybe society should rethink how we react? Maybe humans would stop feeling so powerless if they weren't living in fear? Maybe things would improve if we could trust each other again? If people stopped blaming one another for things outside of their control? Or trying to live vicariously through others by always complaining about them? Or worse, shaming those who don't believe exactly as we do? That might sound naive to some but maybe it's worth a shot. Wouldn't it be nice if society valued kindness and compassion over competition and anger?

The best hope for curing toxic masculinity may actually lie within men themselves. One day, women won’t need men around as emotional support due to the rise of male allies becoming more vocal about the issue. Boys will grow up learning that emotional vulnerability isn’t weakness; instead, it’s part of human experience.

 

4) The Economy

In a time where there are so many things happening, it's easy to see why people are feeling overwhelmed. We know that our economy has been unstable for years now and things just don't seem to be getting better. With the rise of unemployment, the tightening of budgets, and the uncertainty of what will happen next in the coming years, we can't help but feel angry. Here are five reasons why our culture is so angry:

1) The Economy

 2) Lack of Employment

3) Uncertainties

4) Fear

5) Low Self-Esteem

Each one of these factors plays a role in how we react to certain situations and how we view ourselves and those around us. Unemployment, low self-esteem, fear; all of these are natural responses when faced with an uncertain future. Combine all this with the economy and it becomes clear why anger has become such a prevalent part of our culture. It's okay to be angry about all this negativity, because anger is simply another way for us to try and make sense of the situation and move forward. And as more unemployed people find themselves with low self-esteem or fearing their future, they start feeling isolated too - which only adds more fuel to the fire that is anger in America today.

 

5) Family

The first reason our culture may be so angry is the disconnection of families. Families are meant to be a place of safety and security, but when one or both parents work long hours and are often away from home, kids can feel lonely and as if they don't matter. Many times kids grow up feeling like they need to take care of themselves because their parents are never around. This can lead to feelings of anger, sadness, depression and isolation that could potentially stay with them for the rest of their lives.

The second reason our culture might be so angry is the false information we receive about success in life. The world has been marketed to us as a place where anyone can succeed if they just work hard enough. We're told that all you have to do is follow your dreams and everything will turn out alright. But how many people actually get what they want out of life? We live in a society that has perfected the appearance of happiness, it's not unusual for people to become depressed after living the perfect life on social media because reality isn't nearly as good. It's easy to compare ourselves with others on social media and develop an intense sense of envy, which leads to anger.