Summary
The core values and concepts of the U.S. culture and the overall perception of reality, though admittedly fluid and dynamic, might seem indestructible and, ultimately, flawless at its core. However, as a recent article by Siegel (2022) outlines, the specified perception may turn out to be a mirage. Specifically, Siegel (2022) questions vocally the emotional blunting that the medicalization of health issues, particularly depression, entails. Linked to the problem of public opinion being easily molded and affected by the threat to established values and the necessity to make a personal change, the article offers a cohesive and reasonable argument regarding the current harmful trends and their problematic origins.
Relation to Public Opinion
Though having seemingly little to do with the concept of public opinion, Siegel’s (2022) article is, in fact, drenched in regret concerning the implicit flaws that public opinion as a phenomenon contains. Specifically, the unique combination of adherence to rigid stereotypes and the fascinating malleability of the views based on the current political and cultural trends is outlined in the article (Siegel, 2022). The described observation aligns with the concept of political socialization as a process linked to accepting the views and opinions associated with a specific political clan. Indeed, given the strong presence of mental-health-related stereotypes among most American households, the promotion of the acceptance of medicalization as the only solution to managing emergent mental health issues becomes highly probable. As a result, multiple concerns emerge, the main one being a drastic drop in the extent of empathy that American people may have for others (Siegel, 2022). Thus, the article is thoroughly connected to the problem of public opinion being rigid in its prejudices and assumptions and its failure to question them.
My Perspective
The article evokes quite a range of thoughts on the issue of empathy and the willingness to conform to the set standards by general audiences. On the one hand, the continuous focus on using solely medical solutions to issues that are evidently linked to mental health and can potentially be addressed solely through therapy does raise a certain amount of concern. Combined with the exceptionally high prices for medication, as well as the fact that alternative cheaper options are rarely represented by tested medicine e and, therefore, are often prescribed over the counter, the described problem does represent a case for thorough public discussion. However, on the other hand, the lack of the necessary medical background in general audiences discussing the specified issue suggests the presence of implicit bias and, therefore, will inevitably lead to the misrepresentation of a range of facts and the lack of trustworthiness in discussion results.
Overall, even though the article by Siegel (2022) could be seen as controversial in its approach to mental health and depression, I tend to agree with the overall statement, especially regarding how malleable and changeable public opinion is. Specifically, the flawed perception of trends and the lack of a critical lens needed to understand their implications regarding public health can be seen as a major cause of the failure to manage depression, as well as other public health issues, in the U.S. population. Thus, the issue could be regarded as a problem of public opinion, particularly the unwillingness to part with certain harmful aspects of the traditional perspective on health management extrapolated from the American lifestyle philosophy.
Reference
Siegel, L. (2022). Antidepressants, empathy, and democracy.City Journal. Web.