What are the Major Causes of Insecurity in People ' s Lives?

WHAT ARE THE MA

JOR CAUSES OF INSECURITY IN PEOPLE'S LIVES?

Coco Sun, Year 12, Gellhorn

When threatened, the body has an instinctual natural response to a threatening situation, which primes oneself for either resting or fighting a perceived threat. This ‘Fight or Flight’ response floods the body with chemicals such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol. Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, increases cardiac output priming a person for some form of physical exertion, norepinephrine which functions as a neurotransmitter enables cells to be targeted and primed for action/reaction, and finally, cortisol which is a hormone that is closely linked with stress and helps the body respond to danger. Some people may be more predisposed to insecurities as a result of a more physical ‘trigger ready ’ response to threats from birth. Due to this instinctual fight-or-flight response in humans, people have the potential to become fearful of threats or overly vigilant, resulting in insecurity. Childhood and adolescence are also a period with complex psychological development, with many variables which will affect one ' s growth, therefore having a direct effect on one ' s anxiety and insecurity. Adolescence is a key time where both socioculturally and academically an association between puberty and anxiety/insecurity has frequently been made and the causes for insecurity and results, are varied. This essay will address the course and sources for insecurity and its effect on students ' mental health. Insecurity, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is a feeling of inadequacy, lack of self-confidence, and inability to cope, accompanied by general uncertainty and anxiety about one ’ s goals, abilities, or relationships with others, the causes of which are attributed generally to environmental, biological, genetic, and sociocultural factors. Social and cultural norms are behavioural rules learned through primary and secondary socialisation, which often go unspoken and are learned through observation and interaction with the local and wider culture within a country. For example, in recent years, the prevalence of skin whitening products has increased tremendously among Asian women. Colourism is linked with social stratification based on skin tone in China, creating a perception of privilege and social mobility in groups with paler skin; resulting in an increase in insecurity and anxiety within sectors of society where many will self loathe due to their skin colour as they ‘feel inadequacy ’ in not meeting the social norms of beauty.

Society and its norms are shaped by the environment around it, economic insecurity, war and famine can lead to people becoming increasingly insecure. Rapid changes in the environment and a lack of emotional stability can directly affect how someone views themselves and their security.

Many of the veterans who see combat in war end up suffering from varying degrees of PTSD; 5.7% of Americans 13 and older develop PTSD during their lifetime, as well as approximately 8 million adults in the USA who have a PTSD diagnosis today.

Some studies relating to school bullying and PTSD and its relation to insecurity, have been undertaken, showing that boys were more likely to be exposed to bullying than girls, though PTSD symptoms were higher among female students. Bullying in schools has been found to cause avoidant behaviour in students; for instance; students who were bullied are more likely to avoid potential situations which could cause insecurity to surface. Overall, PTSD is a major issue in modern society with numerous causes and various symptoms, one of which can present as a form of insecurity through avoidant behaviour and fear of unfamiliar situations.

Epigenetics is an area of research wherein researchers examine changes in the function of the genes without the genes themselves having been altered, through a variety of outside sources such as nutrition, stress and exposure to certain toxins (alcohol, drugs, etc.), Epigenetics can influence mood and affect one ' s feelings of selfworth security and may lead to depression. Genetic factors have long been held as one of the primary sources for psychiatric disorders, along with emotional abuse, these factors are important. However, differences between identical twins ’ rates of disorders signify that other outside sources must be partially or wholly responsible for certain psychiatric disorders. Despite the area of epigenetics being relatively new and understudied, it can be stated that outside sources such as drugs, stress can lead to the development of mental health issues such as depression anxiety and general insecurity. Attachment theory is an alternative description for the cause of insecurity in teens and adults. Rather than attributing the formation of disorders to genetics, attachment theory leans on the effects of relationships during early development on one ’ s long-term mental health. Attachment theory, as stated by Bowlby, dictates that, in order to develop as a mentally healthy adult, the infant and young child should experience a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with his mother in which both find satisfaction and enjoyment. Bowlby posited three—then later four —different forms of attachment that can be developed during infancy and childhood: secure attachment, ambivalent-insecure attachment, avoidant-insecure attachment, and disorganised insecure attachment. These groups were further studied and relabelled by some as secure, avoidant, disorganised and anxious attachment. According to researcher Julianne R. Urban, a positive correlation can be found in individuals who have either anxious or avoidant attachment in their infancy and the development of anxiety disorders. When they are older, these people are often found to suffer from insecurity in groups with low levels of cohesion, in turn, these adults with insecure attachment sometimes avoid groups and isolate themselves showing many basic forms of insecurity.

The typical stereotype of a teenager in modern western society is of an irresponsible, lazy, disrespectful, rebellious and insecure person. There is little known as to why stereotypes form; though some consider it as a function to describe aspects of social groups and explain relationships between groups. Insecurity in teens has often been linked to biological changes and the onset of (particularly early) puberty. Puberty is the developmental period in which changes occur in the brain-neuroendocrine processes and physical characteristics, along with fluctuating

concentrations of hormones. This culminates in reproductive maturity. However, the social construction of puberty in terms of definitions and expectations can vary from culture to culture. Due to the physiological and psychological changes being undertaken as well as social pressures, many young people will suffer from various forms of insecurity, anxiety, and depression.

It has been estimated that internet users worldwide spend on average two hours and twenty-five minutes per day on social media apps like Instagram, Snapchat and WeChat. Such apps can be argued to be contributing to an impossible standard of perfection, in terms of beauty, affluence, and success into people ’ s devices at all moments of one ’ s life. Social media represents a false reality where people, celebrities, peers, and strangers can stage pictures to represent their apparently perfect lives. People of all ages will make comparisons between themselves and others, in relation to their wealth, success, figure, appearance, romance, and so on. This can have a detrimental effect on people ' s psyche as it misrepresents reality to such a severe degree people grow to loathe themselves, and become increasingly insecure, which can destroy one ' s relationships as well as one ' s self-esteem.

Anonymity is also an increasing issue on social media, the ability to create fake profiles and certain apps which are non-identifying, which can lead to a significant increase in bullying and brigading. Online bullying is something that can affect people from all walks of life and can significantly decrease people ’ s self-worth, sometimes to the point of suicide. In recent months, many major football clubs entered into a joint social media blackout to highlight the abuse which can be received online, hoping to effect some change in order to prevent mental fatigue and potential future psychological issues amongst players and fans alike. The effects of online abuse, trolling and criticism can affect all drastically reducing one ’ s mental health.

In conclusion, insecurity is a major problem facing all sectors of modern society, it has multiple causes attributed to everything from genetics, environment, PTSD, to the creation of modern technological advances such as social networks. However, the extent to which one thing can be held as the singular cause is debatable, insecurity certainly has deep-rooted psychological, social, and cultural causes but whether one is more important is not clear. To a certain extent, they will all play a significant part in the formation of a person ' s insecurity and anxiety. However, it should be considered that while many people share similar symptoms, the way a situation can affect each individual is unique, therefore the impact of one ’ s environment and genetics may not have the same equal influence on all individuals, and the extent to which they may or may not because insecurity is dependent on the person affected. Overall, insecurity is a wide-ranging issue that clearly affects all in different ways. The important thing is to understand that the causes are many and intertwined, but that it is something that is universal and one ’ s insecurities shouldn 't be seen as a means to ostracize people.