Re:Dalai Lama: Behind Our Anxiety, the Fear of Being Unneeded
by steveax on Friday November 04, 2016 @09:25PM
(#12877602)
Your post reminded me of the Fresh Air interview with Sebastian Junger a while back [1]. I've not read the book yet, but it's on my list.
[1]: http://www.npr.org/2016/05/21/478962909/sebastian-junger-s-e...
Social exclusion no longer means death for humans, but our brains are wired to feel that it does, and so there is an epidemic of loneliness, disconnection, and fear.
I'm not saying that the old days of completely depending on one's tribe of family and friends for survival was better in objective terms, but it was harmonious with our evolved instincts to be part of a small, mutually-connected group. Economic and social forces in a globalized society tend to act against the sustainability of such groups. So even those who are well-connected aren't as deeply connected, and are always threatened with potential loss of connection for unpredictable, uncontrollable economic or social reasons.