The central contention of Affluenza is, oddly, contained in an appendix. Here it is posited that there is “a strong and statistically significant linear Pearson correlation between the prevalence of any emotional distress and income inequality”. In other words, in countries where there is high inequality, there appear to be high levels of emotional distress. James uses this statistical relationship to go further than other “happiness” theorists. Where they argue that greater prosperity has not produced greater levels of happiness, he argues that what he calls “selfish capitalism” has produced inequality and, through it, mental illness.
The whole book rests on this.Finkelstein mentions two possible alternative explanations:
Let me provide an alternative, much less comfortable, explanation of increased rates of mental illness in developed countries — social mobility. In his compelling book The Scent of Dried Roses, Tim Lott tries to make sense of his own encounters with mental illness, including his suicidal depression. He concludes that the disappearance of the English lower middle class from which he came and his own rise (he is now a justly successful novelist, then already well on his way) made him feel disorientated. He lost a sense of who he was, a sense of his story.
I find this very convincing. But its implications are disturbing. It suggests that the best way for James to reduce Affluenza would be for everyone to know their place. With fewer aspirations and ambitions people might be more content. I don’t think he, or the other happiness theorists for that matter, are far away from this view. James is already pretty scathing about the consequences of the drive towards female equality. And if he is right that China and Nigeria are happier (or at least have less emotional distress), presumably they would be better off staying as they are.
1 comment:
Well, come on, let's not overlook the medicalisation of everything and everyone.
The *diagnostic-surge* has a lot to answer for. It's not at all unlike the disgraceful and, thankfully, discredited "repressed memory", just with a great deal more subtelty.
Damend everything from shopping to sex to feeling a bit pissed off about not getting a promotion are all "medical" conditions these days.
Let's also not forget how many tens of millions of people around the world who are medicated - licit and illicit - and, are therefore, entirely emotionally detached from themselves, let alone anything or anyone else.
The problem with these single theory approaches is, well, they look at singular factors, which is useless. Life isn't like that; there are a multitude of inter-related social, cultural, political and economic factors that need to be teased out and examined, and even then, assumptions are very often wrong, and conclusions even more so.
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