

How anxious institutions affect us all (with Yuval Levin)
45 snips Oct 21, 2023
Renowned scholar Yuval Levin joins Curtis Chang to discuss the concept of 'the anxious institution', exploring the role institutions play in causing and experiencing anxiety. They discuss the importance of institutions in preserving traditions, the significance of institutional ceremonies, and the impact of institutional breakdown. They also delve into how media amplifies anxiety and the need for institutional innovation.
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Roles Provide Identity And Calm Future Fear
- Institutions give people roles that shape identity and decision-making.
- Losing those institutional roles produces deep anxiety about the future.
Anxiety Is Fear Of Future Loss
- Anxiety is fundamentally about fearing future loss and uncertainty.
- Institutional breakdown amplifies that fear by removing anchors for planning and trust.
White Coat Ceremony As Identity Anchor
- Curtis Chang shares his daughter’s white coat ceremony as a formative ritual.
- The ceremony anchored her identity and reduced first-week medical school anxiety.