Is There a Gap Between Expectations and Reality?

Stephanie Coontz: We see that measured happiness is very high, at 16. And since you're talking about reckless optimism is a feature of that age, how can you explain then, the relatively very high and increasing suicide rate? Or maybe it's that the cohort that are prone toward suicidal thoughts are those who see that gap between expectations and reality," she says. "I really don't think anyone knows"