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From Material Abundance to Psychological Frustration |
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When Ulysses and his comrades found themselves cast adrift, they kindled a
fire using the timbers from the wrecked ship and prepared a meal. Once they
had satisfied their hunger, their minds turned to their fallen companions,
and tears of sorrow streamed down their faces. Homer's account resonates
with authenticity. Our primal needs naturally take precedence over our
emotional yearnings; however, once our basic requirements have been
fulfilled, the deeper essence of our humanity resurfaces.
This phenomenon, observed on an individual scale, can also manifest on a
global level. The developed nations, in a broad sense, have succeeded in
providing their populace with sustenance, shelter, and attire. Consequently,
the citizens of these nations are becoming increasingly attuned to more
subtle and multifaceted necessities. Yet, a society engineered to produce
goods is ill-equipped to satisfy the intricacies of our psychological
longings. Paradoxically, the very mechanisms that drive our efficient
production processes diminish our psychological gratification. Consequently,
as we push the boundaries of technological advancement further, the
psychological landscape worsens. We have emerged from the depths of physical
destitution, only to find ourselves ensnared in the poverty of the mind—a
psychological slum.
In essence, within the trajectory of technological progress within any
societal organism, there comes a pivotal juncture where the focus must shift
from material to non-material needs. This juncture, which we have now
reached or perhaps surpassed, necessitates a comprehensive reconsideration
of our social approach. How can we meet our psychological requirements in an
era of technological advancement? This is the fundamental question we face.
When our psychological needs go unfulfilled, one can describe individuals as
frustrated. Their endeavors to attain some semblance of psychological
contentment prove futile. (The term "frustration" derives from the Latin
word "frustra," meaning in vain.) Indeed, as American psychologists Dollard
and Miller demonstrated a quarter of a century ago, frustration breeds
aggression. When we find ourselves unable to repair a broken car, we are
compelled to strike it in anger. (Naturally, there is more to be said
regarding the origins of aggression, and I shall expound upon it later—this
is merely a preliminary outline.)
In summary, the existence of pervasive frustration serves as the primary
catalyst for the mounting tide of violence witnessed in the world today.
Therefore, if it can be demonstrated that industrial society and its
associated conditions are responsible for this frustration, then violence
must be regarded as a consequence of production. Frustration and violence
become the toll exacted by material abundance. |
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