This podcast will explore the changing landscape of male development, drawing on the concept of the "Great Rewiring" which refers to the impact of technology on boys' lives, particularly since the 2010s. The podcast will discuss how boys' engagement with the real world has declined and their immersion in the virtual world has increased, leading to various challenges.

Here are some key themes the podcast will delve into:

The Shift in Mental Health: The podcast will examine the rise in rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide among boys, particularly in the 2010s, and how this contrasts with girls' mental health trends. It will explore how boys have shifted from exhibiting externalizing behaviors (like aggression and violence) to internalizing disorders (like depression).
Withdrawal from the Real World: The podcast will explore how boys are increasingly withdrawing from real-world activities, including in-person social interactions, risky play, and exploration, and instead investing their time and energy in the virtual world.
The Impact of Technology: The podcast will discuss how the rise of smartphones, high-speed internet, video games, and online pornography has created an environment where boys can satisfy their desires virtually, leading to a disconnection from the real world. The easy access to pornography and video games are presented as having a particular impact.
The "Failure to Launch": The podcast will explore the phenomenon of young men struggling to transition to adulthood, often living with their parents, not being in education, employment, or training, and how this is more common among boys than girls. This can be connected to the Japanese concept of "hikikomori" which describes young men who withdraw into their bedrooms.
The Decline of Risk-Taking: The podcast will look at how boys are engaging in less risk-taking behavior, which may be contributing to their decreased ability to manage risks in the real world.
The Rise of Meaninglessness: The podcast will examine how boys are increasingly reporting that their lives feel meaningless. This is related to the concept of anomie, which is a lack of stable and shared social norms.

The podcast aims to provide an understanding of the complex factors contributing to the challenges boys are facing today, exploring the “push and pull” between the real and the virtual world and the impacts this has on male development.

S1E8 | What Is Happening to Boys? | The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt | The Messy Podcast

Powered by Wave AI