By Benjamin Lyngdoh
At the outset, let us factor this; ‘character’ is short-term but ‘personality’ is everlasting. As such, educational organizations only dole out ‘character certificates’ but have no assimilative mechanism to indicate personality. This is because personality as a ‘social-being construct’ is influenced by innumerable factors; most of which is innate and unseen but can only be recognized in terms of explicit behaviour over a period of time (commonly known as ‘traits’). In relation, being neurotic/neuroticism can imply and envelope numerous specifics and issues (to the extent of one being depressed and in some cases going totally insane). As a case in point, medical science is mainly concerned with issues/cases of ‘neuroses’. However, this article is precisely pin-pointed only towards the proliferation of neuroticism while particularly referencing in on the youth. Contemporarily, the youth comprise of a major chunk of people experiencing and/or showing signs of experiencing neuroticism. This is a major problem as it directly impacts upon the future well-being of our state and its people. Accordingly, I place the following pointers –
Firstly, there is a framework for understanding personality. It is commonly known as ‘The Big Five Personality Traits’. As a theory it started developing in the 1980’s and today it stands as one of the most frequently applied frameworks for assessing personality and to comprehend ‘as to why people behave the way they do’. Here, the five traits that forms the basis of it all are, namely; openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. Each trait is important in its own way. However, one can picture that neuroticism is pivotal to them all. This is because the degree of neuroticism/emotional stability defines how one responds in relation to the other traits. As such, there are two opposite ends to neuroticism. The first end is where the youth are cool, calm, relaxed, sure, confident and have a sense of positive clairvoyance (features of emotional stability). The second end is where the youth are insecure, lack confidence, frightened, worried, irritated, nervous, sad, tense, angry, anxious and chronically pessimistic. In general, we find that the youth of the latter (second end) are more as compared to the former (first end). Moreover, in some cases we find that their degree of insecurity, fear, anxiousness, pessimism, etc is to the extent that it openly influences upon their outlook and behaviour. Well, one can also say that ‘there is no household in Meghalaya that is free from a neurotic youth’. It is indeed a sad and sorry state of affairs, but true!
Secondly, it is very easy to experience neuroticism amongst the youth. All you have to do is talk and mingle with them. Listen to them as they analyse and dissect on a particular issue of their interest; you will realize a deep sense of neuroticism in their conclusion. In addition, this is even more interesting; if you mingle with them and raise any topic of life-interest such as ‘employment, unemployment, school, education, family, knowledge, skills, government and governance, local management and administration, alcohol and drugs, etc’, right from their opening of the discussion to the main body of their argument up until the ultimate conclusion; there is neuroticism all around. In fact, even if they do not talk; you can see a deep sense of disappointment and defeat in their outlook and behaviour.
In fact, if you do an experiment and walk the streets of Shillong and observe the youth (particularly those who are walking alone); in most cases you will hardly find a youth who is smiling or relaxed. In general, most are lost in thoughts with a frowned (worried) face. On the flipside, with the growing popularity of mobile and online games the situation is turning from worse to worst. The youth now spend a lot on ‘screen time’ (across phone and computer gadgets and television) thereby contributing more towards their susceptibility towards neuroticism. As a case in point, try calling up any youth for chores/work when he/she is deeply involved in their gadget; for sure you will get an irritated/angry response. This is a face and a phase of neuroticism!
Thirdly, how do we find the remedy for our neurotic youth? Well, before we try to answer this question we must not forget that neuroticism is related to personality (and not character). As such, it shall require a multi-pronged effort across all stakeholders (the home, locality, church, educational organizations, governance, NGO’s, etc). The fight against it must be 24X7 and not just the eight hours (on average) when our youth are at work/education. Subsequently, educational organizations and governance have a major role to play in remedying neuroticism (at the macro level). Here, the role of schools is most critical. By its inherent nature, the neurotic youth is not created when one reaches higher levels of education. The seeds of positivity/negativity are sowed while one is at school. Hence, it is crucial that our students are taught on ‘cognitive processes’ that build and harness on positive energy and thoughts and actions. If we get it right at the school level, then the latter part of their study and career challenges will not be too much of a problem. They can face anything and everything with a positive mind-set. As such, school education in its holistic form (not just subject knowledge) is most vital as everything after that at the college/university level is more a case of ‘value addition’ only.
Fourthly, the role of governance is equally critical. Under conditions of poor governance; even if the educational organizations do their part in tackling neuroticism, all will be an utter failure. Even worse, it will lead to an uncontrollable and irreversible upsurge of the neurotic youth. At that point there will be no turning back. However, going by the way things are happening now; ‘the rise of the neurotic youth’ is a clear and present danger. At the top of the pecking order, the role of governance boils down to employment opportunities which are fair and just.
Sadly, looking at the recent past this is far from achievable. Every now and then we will see/read about ‘malpractices/unfair practices’ in recruitment processes. Figure this, when a youth writes in a newspaper column/letter about nepotism/injustice while ‘withholding his/her name’; that is an indication of the deep-rooted chronic prevalence of the neurotic youth. Who is to be blamed for this? Is it not the governance? Indeed, life is tough for the youth already; add to that, the expectations to deliver within the continuum of a system which provides little or no opportunities for growth. No wonder, in Shillong these days we have the menace of drugs and its addiction. The catch point being, when frustrated and lost; turn to ‘stuff’ that will make you oblivious and blissful to all problems!
Lastly, if the youth is neurotic then the society is neurotic. No one is immune to the problem. Moreover, it seems as though we are losing the fight against youth neuroticism. It is time to reverse the trend and it shall require a herculean task at that. Be that as it may, it is time to act; lest this issue of neuroticism turns into ‘neuroses’; which is a far more dangerous ball game altogether.
(The Author teaches at NEHU)