Your life these days is complicated by the fact that morality models of behavior have been replaced with stability models. Put another way, evaluations of “right and wrong” behavior have been replaced with evaluations of “coping-with-stress” behavior. It used to be that those guilty of transgression were worthy of punishment. In fact, punishment used to be seen as part of the rehabilitative process. Now, however, guilty people may be seen as victims who deserve our sympathy, our forgiveness, even our guilt over entertaining the possibility of punishing them.
It also seems we have decided to absolve ourselves from personal responsibility. Done anything bad lately? Well, you must have been insane, drunk, high on dope, or under marital stress; maybe you are a victim of the violence you see on social media and TV, or you have been playing violent video games; maybe you were abused—either physical, emotional, or both—as a child. You have had it tough, to be sure, and you probably have some disorder as a result. If you buy into these false messages, you have become psychologized!
Consider, for instance, a 12-year-old who is caught shoplifting. Today we cast this behavior in the context of psychological instability and the need for counseling. The misdeed is symptomatic of some sort of psychological problem, and the kid must be put into the mental health system (and given psychiatric medication). Consequently, an adolescent or young adult may not face the consequences of their deeds, or get away with a slap on the wrist. and is well on the road to learning how to shift blame and responsibility for their actions elsewhere. Of course, the parents may receive more punishment than the law breaker via time running down a lawyer, bail, fines, and related expenses and efforts.
Once upon a time, it was very different. We identified shoplifting as wrong, dishonest, and deserving of punishment, and we disciplined that child and made the child pay off the damage and fines; once upon a time, we said that the shoplifter lacked morality: once upon a time we called the perpetrator self-centered, undisciplined and worthy of punishment; once upon a time before the psychologizing virus hit, rather than look to experts to justify and explain our reactions to stress and trauma, we attempted to take some personal control and face up to our vulnerabilities.
The real tragedy in all this diffusion of responsibility and fear of confronting our personal demons is that we overlook those who really do need help. Some of us really do need professional help in dealing with stress, and some kids require medication to help them concentrate in class. But real victims can get overshadowed by the whining of crybabies who are determined to find someone to pad the corners of their fragile world while blaming the other side. In the meantime, those who need help are often overlooked while many mandated to get help are just going through the motions and will not benefit, but, nevertheless, use valuable resources.
Psychology and Stress 