Why Is There So Much Depression Today? The Waxing of the Individual and the Waning of the Commons

Abstract

The story that follows comes in three parts. First I will argue that there is, literally, an epidemic of depression today. Something has happened, roughly since world War II in America, so that depression is about ten times as common as it used to be. There are four independent lines of evidence suggesting that this is so. I will detail two well-done, large scale studies showing that the lifetime prevalence of depression in young people now exceeds by roughly a factor of ten the prevalence in young people 50 years ago. I will then look at two contemporary peoples who do not live in modern culture — the Kaluli of New Guinea and the Old Order Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Neither of these pre-modern cultures has depression at anything like the prevalence we do.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculationcheckout

Purchases are for personal use only

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramson, L.Y., Alloy, L.B., & Metalsky, G.I. (1988). The cognitive diathesis stress theories of depression: Toward an adequate evaluation of the theories’ validities. In L. B. Alloy (Ed.), Cognitive processes in depression. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar

  • Abramson, L.Y., Seligman, M.E.P., & Teasdale, J. (1978). Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 49–59

    Article PubMed Google Scholar

  • Egeland, J.A. & Hostetter, A.M. (1983). Amish Study I: Affective disorders among the Amish, 1976–1980. American Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 56–61.

    PubMed Google Scholar

  • Egeland„J.A., Hostetter, A.M., & Eshleman, S.K. (1983). Amish Study III: The impact of cultural factors on diagnosis of bipolar illness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 67–71.

    PubMed Google Scholar

  • Kleinman, A. (1982). Neurasthenia and depression: A study of somatization and culture in China. Cultural and Medical Psychiatry, 6, 117–190.

    Article Google Scholar

  • Klerman, G. (1979). The age of melancholy. Psychology Today, 10, 37–88.

    Google Scholar

  • Klerman, G. (1988). The current age of youthful melancholia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 4–14.

    Article PubMed Google Scholar

  • Klerman, G., Lavori, P., Rice, J., et al. (1985). Birth cohort trends in rates of major depressive disorder among relatives of patients with affective disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 689–693.

    PubMed Google Scholar

  • Murphy,.I., Sobol, A., Neff, R., Oliver, D., & Leighton, A. (1984). Stability of prevalence: Depression and anxiety disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 689–693.

    Google Scholar

  • Myers, J., Weissman, M., Tischler, G., et al. (1984), Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 959–967.

  • Nozick, R. (1981). Philosophical explanations. Cambridge: Belknap Harvard.

    Google Scholar

  • Reich, T., Van Eerdewegh, P., Rice, J., et al. (1988). The family transmission of primary major depressive disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 41, 35–49.

    Google Scholar

  • Robins, L., Heizer, J., Weissman, M., et al. (1984). Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 949–958.

  • Scheiffelin, E. (1984). The cultural analysis of depressive affect: An example from New Guinea. Unpublished manuscript, University of Pennsylvania.

    Google Scholar

  • Seligman, M.E.P. (1975). Helplessness: On depression, development, and death. San Francisco: Freeman, 1975.

    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19174, USA

    Martin E. P. Seligman

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA

    Rick E. Ingram

Rights and permissions

Reprintspermissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Seligman, M.E.P. (1990). Why Is There So Much Depression Today? The Waxing of the Individual and the Waning of the Commons. In: Ingram, R.E. (eds) Contemporary Psychological Approaches to Depression. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0649-8_1

Download citation

  • DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0649-8_1

  • Publisher NameSpringer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN978-1-4612-7909-9

  • Online ISBN978-1-4613-0649-8

  • eBook PackagesSpringer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policiesethics

Deja un comentario

Ten en cuenta que los comentarios deben aprobarse antes de que se publiquen.

  • Comments
  • DISQUS
    1 out of ...

    You May Also Like

    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10

    1

    13

    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10
    Ulike Air 10

    Ulike Air 10

    $319.00
    $399.00

    1343 reviews

    96% Hair Reduction in 2 Weeks

    90-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee

    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X

    1

    3

    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X
    Ulike X

    Ulike X

    $349.00
    $429.00

    292 reviews

    94% Hair Reduction fo Man in 2 Weeks

    90-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee

    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.

    1

    31

    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.
    Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset.

    Aparato de depilación IPL Ulike Sapphire Air3

    $239.00
    $329.00

    6352 reviews

    90% Hair Reduction in 4 Weeks

    90-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee

    Is Ulike IPL right for you?

    Is Ulike IPL right for you?

    Oct 31, 2024
    by
    LeeJim

    The best IPL hair removal device in 2024

    Top IPL Hair Removal Devices of 2024

    Oct 21, 2024
    by
    Brandy Williams

    Explore the top IPL hair removal devices in 2024 with insights and expert reviews to choose the best option for you.