The frustrated society-but why?

A problem best solved by education

Social frustration is a prominent hallmark of our society. People are observed frequently everywhere quarreling on tiny issues, leading to grave consequences later on. Frustration is notably caused due to injustice, unequal opportunities and economic constraints.

However, ill-mannered and unethical attitudes of people are also triggering frustration and anger among the social beings. Internalizing frustration depends upon the interpretation and perception of the situation. Experts view that the same story and event is perceived and interpreted in different ways by different individuals, and their interpretations are arguably embedded in their personal understandings, observations and historical experiences. The frustrated folk spare no time to take revenge from the opponents on minor issues.

The practice is commonly observed each day, in each office, institution, market, family, public place, and between the father and son, with relatives, colleagues, and across all spheres of life. However, the responsible forums and concerned authorities have never thought of this issues seriously; though this parameter is the root cause of many social issues and potentially harming our social fabric grievously.

Hundreds of events backed by anger and frustration occurred in our society but these issues are taken for granted and no serious debate or discussion is carried on to sort out this situation. Schools and other formal institutions are the most relevant forums nurturing children to behave positively and decently, but unluckily our institutions are completely failed to instill good manners and maintain our traditional sublime values in the students’ minds. It is because from the playgroup up to graduation level we have no discipline in our courses or relevant teachers that may guide students or shape their personality in a productive way on how to manage anger, frustration, or resolve problems; or how to behave in certain situations or to control emotions in proper manner or navigate their future.

Our students may be quite competent in English, physics, chemistry, geography or computer science, but unfortunately they are found extremely intolerant and indecent in their routine life, which ultimately leads to anger and hostility in their behaviour. In addition to this our religious institutions have also failed to nurture folks in an ethical way. But on the contrary, advanced countries train their children in the other way since the very beginning classes of the school to internalize in them positive and productive features.

Frustration-aggression theory of the social psychology in this connection advocates that a person deprived of his fundamental rights or mistreated by a powerful person makes him to think himself as helpless and forces him to take revenge in any way, which promotes frustration ultimately. This frustration consequently converts into aggression. The founder of the theory, John Dollard, contends further that this aggression does not remain in thoughts for long and is directed towards a weaker or soft target to quench the frustration, worsening the situation further.

Schools are preferably suitable platforms to provide skills and guidelines for handling the uneven situations or resolving problems and conflicts satisfactorily. Contents in the syllabuses should be included to socialize students in a better way, strengthening family support, participatory socialization of children at home; equal opportunities should be given to the maximum level, sources of income should be increased, rule of law may prove a good step in this scenario and overall the unchecked population growth should be controlled on priority basis.

In society and families, we always pass through such practices that the frustrated employees and common men turn their aggression to family members or other marginalized segments. Recently in Quetta a government employee shot his wife and four innocent children and later himself while releasing a video blaming two officers of his department for teasing him for some reason. The helpless government employee directed his frustration towards his wife and children, finding no other way than that. Countless events are evident in this connection most often in our society.

In addition to this, the strain theory by Robert K. Merton maintains that frustration erupts among the society when a society is promoting cultural goals such as wealth, progress or success but is not providing equal opportunities to its members to achieve them. The consequences of inequality and mismatch cause strain and frustration which turn youth towards crime and rebellion.

In Pakistan these practices are very common; the masses are deprived of equal opportunities in almost all spheres of life especially education, health and jobs, which ultimately yield anti-social consequences and that unluckily spoils the masses who are never ever responsible for these ill-practices. Source, referrals, favoritism and nepotism are commonly exercised, barring the path of merit and fairness. Such practices are seriously instrumental in increasing disintegration, frustration, social isolation, depression, anxiety and more than that the disinterest of youth in education and educational achievements which nevertheless culminating on anti-social behavior and many times carries to ultimate end the suicides sadly.

Frustration at the societal level is a smoldering issue undermining the overall social system. The frustrated attitudes trigger family conflicts, political rivalries, social retaliations and exclusion. Serious measures can reduce this menace. Pragmatic steps are required to minimize the intensity of this enigma.

Schools are preferably suitable platforms to provide skills and guidelines for handling the uneven situations or resolving problems and conflicts satisfactorily. Contents in the syllabuses should be included to socialize students in a better way, strengthening family support, participatory socialization of children at home; equal opportunities should be given to the maximum level, sources of income should be increased, rule of law may prove a good step in this scenario and overall the unchecked population growth should be controlled on priority basis.