The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Many college campuses have been experiencing increasing tension in recent years, with speakers being interrupted and a palpable sense of caution surrounding discussions, leaving students and professors feeling constrained in expressing their thoughts openly. Concurrently, there has been a notable rise in mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and suicide both on campuses and nationally.

Greg Lukianoff, a First Amendment expert, and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt delve into the roots of these modern campus challenges, attributing them to the entrenchment of three detrimental ideas in American childhood and education. These “Great Untruths” include the belief that adversity weakens, the reliance on one’s feelings as absolute truth, and the simplistic division of life into a fight between good and evil people. These ideas contradict longstanding psychological concepts about well-being and wisdom from numerous cultures. Adhering to these misconceptions and fostering a “safetyism” culture impede the overall development of the youth, hindering their journey towards becoming self-sufficient adults capable of navigating life’s uncertainties.