Ambition, Inequity and Systemic Stress: Causes and Consequences in Modern Society
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15790803Keywords:
systemic stress, undemocratic practices, job demands-resources model, transactional model of stress, ethical leadership, social inequity, greed and ambition, stress interventionsAbstract
Systemic stress, a pervasive challenge in modern society, stems from structural forces rooted in greed, dishonesty, and inequity, which undermine morality, ethics, and compassion. This integrative review synthesizes Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model, the Job Demands-Resources Model, and the Family Stress Model to explore the causes of stress across family, workplace, and societal domains, emphasizing ambition-driven competition, undemocratic practices, and social inequities. Key stressors include economic hardship, health issues, job instability, frequent policy changes, workplace politics, undemocratic decision-making, societal competition, cultural disparities, misbehaviour, and corruption, all of which erode trust and ethical conduct. These stressors disrupt coping mechanisms, elevate cortisol levels, and contribute to mental and physical health problems, as evidenced by peer-reviewed studies (1956–2023) cited in this study. The article underscores the need for a moral shift toward honesty, compassion, and democratic values to counteract greed-driven policies and foster equitable societies. Proposed interventions include ethical leadership to promote integrity, democratic workplace reforms to enhance fairness, equitable policies to ensure access to resources, and practices such as yoga, mindfulness, and AI-driven mental health tools to support well-being. By prioritizing morality, honesty, and collective responsibility, these strategies aim to dismantle competitive, unethical cultures and create healthier, morally stronger societies where compassion and democratic principles thrive, thereby reducing systemic stress and its societal toll.
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