中国人年龄焦虑背后的文化探因

Cultural Reflection on Chinese People's Age Anxiety

中国人对年龄的关注强调和由此带来的年龄焦虑比西方更为普遍,这种现象值得我们从文化的角度进行探究。文章从中国的农耕文明、儒家文化和群体意识三个角度出发,系统梳理了中国人年龄焦虑背后的文化因素,分析认为:农耕文明中对时节的强调形成了在合适的年龄做合适的事情的观念;儒家倡导的积极进取、建功立业的人生奋斗精神客观上也会带来“不进则退”的紧迫感和担忧一事无成的恐慌感;中国人文化心态中群体意识占主导地位,群体对个人在何年龄要做何事的预期也导致个人的焦虑。文章结尾进一步揭示了年龄焦虑给现阶段中国社会带来的积极和消极的影响。

Chinese people lay more emphasis on age which results in the more overspread age anxiety comparing to the West.The reasons behind this phenomenon can be found in our culture.As a typical agricultural civilization,its intense attention to the seasons has formed the Chinese people's view of time and the concept of doing the right things at the right age;Chinese people cherish this life,and the Confucian enterprising spirit has been internalized into the national spirit,but it also objectively brings the sense of urgency of"no progress means retreat"and a sense of panic that nothing can be achieved in time;the group consciousness in the Chinese cultural mentality dominates the sense of happiness and accomplishment in everyone’s life,and the group's expectations of what to do at a certain age also cause personal anxiety.The general age anxiety of the Chinese promotes the Chinese people to work harder,but it also brings the one-sidedness of personal values proposition.By facing age anxiety objectively,we can achieve the comprehensive and healthy development of both the individual and the whole society.