“I can, therefore I must”: Fragility in the upper‑middle classes
Book •
This is a 2013 peer‑reviewed article by Suniya S. Luthar and colleagues that documents elevated rates of substance use, anxiety, and depression in upper‑middle‑class adolescents and explores how cultural pressures, parenting practices, and entitlement/achievement norms (summarized by the phrase “I can, therefore I must”) contribute to psychosocial fragility in these populations.
The paper synthesizes empirical data and prior literature to argue that affluence, academic pressure, and overly goal‑oriented parenting can paradoxically increase risk for maladjustment among privileged youth.
The paper synthesizes empirical data and prior literature to argue that affluence, academic pressure, and overly goal‑oriented parenting can paradoxically increase risk for maladjustment among privileged youth.
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Mentioned by Suniya Luther as the credo by which children in high achieving environments live.
S2 Ep 33: “I Can, Therefore I Must” - The Risks of High Achieving Stressors and the Powerful Protection of Close Relationships (Rerun)
