I took some notes on self-esteem in my Psychology textbook and the point that individualist societies, like America, often result in sadder citizens really hit home. As opposed to a collectivist society where people often put the group over themselves, so the pressure to succeed individually is lifted off their shoulders, individualist societies result in higher-stressed individuals who often have to carry the weight of their burdens all alone. 

After some research, I came across this video where Sheldon Solomon, a social psychologist, communicates concerns over the psychological costs that result from being American. Solomon acknowledges that we reap many benefits as a capitalist society, like freedom, better nutrition, and improved education but, these aspects should not distract us from our problems.

He claims our society is psychologically destructive as our goals often exceed realistic possibilities. When society urges us to strive for constant economic improvement, self-esteem becomes near impossible to build because we never feel adequate. Since we were all children, adults have been ingraining the idea, or should I say lie, that we can do, become, and have anything in life if we just work tirelessly towards those goals. The idea that people fail at achieving their goals because they are just lazy directs blame unfairly on one person. This can lead to the person blaming and hating themselves for their economic and social standing even if more factors are at play, like race and disability, that hinder success.

Throughout American history, parents worked their whole lives hoping that better education and opportunities given to their children will lead to upward social mobility. Most of the time these hopes were realized, but as Solomon notes, our generation seems to be breaking this tradition. Although more high school students are graduating and entering college than ever before, most millennials seem to be “stuck” or have regressed from where their parents stood economically. When there are "rising expectations in a world with diminishing opportunities,” children end up feeling hopeless and doubt their abilities. America's youth have some of the highest rates of depression because no one can achieve their endless list of impractical dreams to build strong self-esteem.

The American dream was an idea constructed ages ago, but why do we accept it so readily? I guess it gives us all some hope and purpose to get us through our days. In my opinion, having unrealistic expectations will just lead to more disappointment in life. The American dream is just a pipe dream that seems to be psychologically damaging, so I think our generation should stop chasing it and find self-fulfillment in our own way.