How Cancel Culture Affects People’s Mental Health
Assignment description:
You should already have synthesis skills from 207, but now we are going to apply these skills in a more fine-tuned way as you will learn in this unit. You will write a synthesis paper on the topic of cancel culture, using at least three of the readings/texts we will complete throughout this unit and at least two of your own researched sources (this means you will have a minimum of five sources for your essay). Cancel Culture is a very broad topic, so it will be up to you to decide what you will focus on and narrow the scope of your paper appropriately. However, you will not be allowed to write your essay on any of the subtopics chosen for the TEDTalk presentation assignment. Writing your synthesis essay on one of these subtopics will result in a failing grade on the paper. This would then require you to rewrite the paper with a different subtopic in order to receive a passing on the assignment. You will be expected to use different forms of quotations to support your arguments. These quotations must be appropriately formatted using the formatting guidelines discussed in class. Objectives for developing writing skills: This writing assignment is meant to develop the following skills: ability to 1) write a synthesis paper, 2) research a topic using library and internet resources, 3) take organized and functional notes, 4) use research to develop one’s own ideas and perspectives, 5) develop strong thesis statements, 6) organize writing in a coherent manner that allows for easy reader comprehension, and 7) use APA formatting guides to appropriately quote or reference sources both within the essay and in a works cited page.
How Cancel Culture Affects People’s Mental Health
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How Cancel Culture Affects People's Mental Health
Have you ever ostracized, boycotted, or shunned someone, especially a high-profile person, for allegedly acting or speaking disagreeably? If your answer is affirmative, you engaged, knowingly or otherwise, in cancel culture. Precisely, cancel culture entails taking a public stance against individuals deemed to have acted or spoken offensively or objectionably (Brown, 2020). The practice, which traces its origin to the late 2010s, continues to generate heated debate regarding its necessity and people’s attitudes toward it. On one hand, proponents support it based on the contention that it holds those holding critical positions accountable, among other positives. On the flip side, critics view it as a punishment that has no redemption. They contend that it has a chilling effect on public discourse and does not amount to tangible social change. In addition, it paves the way for such social vices as intolerance and cyberbullying (Roberts, 2020). These, in turn, lead to mental health implications. To be specific, the mental health effects of cancel culture include depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Depression is probably the most outstanding outcome of cancel culture and results from bullying and shaming. According to Cleveland Clinic (2023), it is a common mental health condition that manifests through mood changes, such as sadness and changes in sleeping, thinking, and eating. In addition, the disorder results in the loss of interest in activities and things individuals enjoyed previously. While it is normal to feel sad or disoriented in unfamiliar or sad situations, the hallmarks of depression are different since they persist for a longer period than necessary. If left untreated for a long time, depression can lead to detrimental tendencies, such as self-harm and suicide. The good news, however, is that the condition is treatable when detected early. One way of treating depression is through psychotherapy, which involves talking to a mental health professional (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). The therapists help patients identify and change unhealthy behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Similarly, using antidepressants can alter the brain chemistry that causes depression. Health professionals can help depressed people to decide the appropriate type to use since some have side effects. Besides, regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol can be instrumental in improving depression symptoms. People suffering from depression resulting from cancel culture exhibit varying signs of depression. For instance, they appear sad, hopeless, and worried. They usually happen because they may have lost their sources of income, or their reputations could have gone through irreparable damage. In severe cases, they end up losing the meaning of life, prompting them to commit suicide. Further, since they are hurting after undergoing public humiliation, they can decide to vent their frustrations and hurting on the people around them. As such, they incline toward harming or even killing others because they are easily irritable (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). It is also worth noting that depressed people who have been subject to canceling stop enjoying things they used to. In essence, they stop socializing and lead lives of utter seclusion. They also exhibit sleeping disorders, with some seldom sleeping and others sleeping excessively. In sum, to avoid the far-reaching implications of depression in canceling, people should become friendly and supportive of victims of canceling culture. They should routinely talk and offer encouragement instead of isolating the victims (Ross, 2021). This would go a long way in helping rebuild their self-esteem.
The other mental effect of cancel culture is acute anxiety, which refers to repeated attacks of intense terror and fear. The fear revolves around the danger of being censored or getting erased from history. These panic attacks peak within minutes, interfering substantially with daily activities. In addition, they prove difficult to control and are disproportionate to the actual danger (Mayo Clinic, 2023). The most common type of anxiety among victims of canceling is a social anxiety disorder, which goads them to avoid social situations due to increased embarrassment and low self-esteem. Anxiety manifests itself among canceling victims in several ways, including excessive nervousness and restlessness. This is because such people have experienced harrowing ordeals of public shaming and bullying, which makes them avoid other people. In other words, they harbor a perpetual sense of impending danger. For instance, McWhorter (2020) talks about university Professors expressing the fear that their students could file spurious complaints that could land them in trouble. This makes it almost impossible for them to trust or confide in others. Moreover, canceled people suffering from anxiety attacks have increased heart rates and rapid breathin...