Bits from an article in the SCMP today:

China’s phenomenal economic growth has created a generation of “emperors” and “empresses”, the grown children of China’s one-child policy, who often put their needs before anything and anyone else.

Experts say many of this generation are unable to sustain relationships, a result of being spoilt only children, doted on by parents and grandparents who catered to their every whim. “

The problem of adult only children having difficulties sustaining relationships is particularly pronounced among the affluent middle- and upper-classes. Divorce figures in some cities show about a third of all divorce cases involve children of the affluent “me” generation. Brought up in China’s economic and social turmoil of the 1950s and 1960s, their parents buried themselves in work to build a better life. Over the past two decades the country has undergone dizzying economic growth just as the children were reaching their teens.

But in the big cities, experts are seeing a sharp shift in social values among twentysomethings from the wealthy elite and fast-expanding middle class.

“They are very much self-orientated, not others-orientated or social-orientated,” explains Professor Fucius.

While I definitely see the parallels to my life, as I am an only child and was quite spoiled by my parents, I don’t think this is the whole thing.

Okay, yes, in the past several years I have jumped from relationship to relationship at lightning speed. I seem unable to connect to anyone for an extended period of time.

But in terms of that last quote (yes, I know, you want to know if the professor’s first name is Con? No, it’s Yunlan), I do think that there’s something more than just being an only child that often tends to make China appear to be a nation of sociopaths.

I don’t believe that China’s education system places enough emphasis on ethics or morality. It is all geared towards making money and loyalty to the state. While I am an atheist, I did grow up in a vaguely religious environment and did get religious instruction three days a week for six years. I think this is why I myself am only a semi-sociopath rather than a complete one.

Anyway, I now have yet another thing that I can blame on my mother. And I can now spend the day wondering if it is too late for me to change and, if not, how to make that change. If I even want to.

Hongkie Town
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