America has roughly 4500 institutions of higher education. In a majority of those institutions, there aren’t any students shouting down, sometimes violently, guest speakers. These widely-publicized events tend to occur in left-leaning parts of the country, most notably the Northeast and the Western seaboard. However, heightened levels of anxiety and depression within student populations is readily visible across the country. Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt join us to discuss their theory, which is explained in great detail throughout their book The Coddling of the American Mind, of why this trend is occurring among the iGen generation and how parents, school administrators, and the students themselves can help mitigate its’ effects.

What is the justification that students use to oppose speakers, demand speech codes, and request trigger warning policies? Do students overuse the word “trauma”? What is the new kind of student activism and how is it toxic to educational institutions? How widespread is this issue? What is the mental health state of students who are attending college now, as part of the iGen generation? What role does social media play in this young “mental health crisis”?

Further Reading:

The Coddling of the American Mind, article in the Atlantic, written by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, written by Jonathan Haidt

Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate, written by Greg Lukianoff

FIRE website

Heterodox Academy website

Related Content:

Campus Freedom, Free Thoughts Episode

Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate, Free Thoughts Episode

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