Is our culture promoting meaningful connections? I don’t think so, and if so not enough! The first video highlighted the protective factor of connection, which is arguably the most crucial. The video clarified this sense of connection goes beyond your parents and caregivers. The importance of prioritizing connection and a community oriented perspective is counter culture in many ways. As the video noted, the US society promotes consumerism and individualism, which perpetuates isolation, and hinders empathy and humility. While connection is key in sustaining personal and communal health, society is actively working against this. I think about how Covid exacerbated these issues of consumerism and isolation, but also highlighted the importance of connection. I also think about the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and wonder how this tool can be used to aid healing, and promote connection and community.
I thought it was interesting that adolescents tend to assume anger instead of other emotions such as stress, surprise, etc. I understand adolescents struggle with perspective taking but I think society plays a role in this as well. In my field placement we would often identify that anger is a secondary emotion. I think anger is considered a more acceptable emotion in society versus sadness, guilt, shame, etc. Think this is because anger in many ways feels less nuanced than other negative emotions so therefore it is easier to manage and deal with. The ability to investigate and process the feelings beneath anger is a skill and something a person learns through connection, support, and community, which is often lacking in society. Maybe this is why anger feels more accessible to adolescents to identify.