being raised in a society where instant gratification is seen as a right... and that goes back to the way many little ones are parented... Lack of limits and role models... failures of the education system, reliance on benefits combined with lack of incentive to aspire to something better because it would require work and dedication, abuse and emotional neglect. The percieved need that happiness is dependant on owning 'stuff' and yet for every sad/bad case there are probably 10 normal decent people with self discipline and social responsibility not making headlines or appearing in tabloid statistics ...