Neuropsychologist Boris Cyrulnik said modern society is making children anxious and requires a fundamental shift in how communities support youth [1].
This perspective highlights a growing concern regarding the psychological stability of the next generation. If the environments surrounding children continue to produce distress, the long-term impact on public health and social cohesion could be significant.
Cyrulnik identified various symptoms of this anxiety, linking them to the pressures and structures of contemporary life [1]. He said that society is currently in a state of distress, which directly contributes to the harmful impact experienced by children [1].
To combat these trends, Cyrulnik urged the reinvention of civil rituals [1]. He said these rituals are necessary to provide children with a sense of stability, and belonging. By creating new social frameworks, he said that society can alleviate the stressors that lead to chronic anxiety [1].
The call for civil rituals suggests that traditional support systems may no longer be sufficient for the complexities of modern existence. Cyrulnik said the goal is to transform the societal environment into one that fosters resilience rather than fear [1].
“Modern society is making children anxious.”
The emphasis on 'civil rituals' suggests a move away from purely clinical interventions toward a sociological solution for mental health. By focusing on the structural environment of the child, Cyrulnik argues that the cure for anxiety lies in collective social change rather than individual treatment alone.
