*There are thousands of examples of this. We are arguably one of the most isolated cultures in the human history. One bedroom apartments, cubicles, social anxiety, monetary greed, cars. The need for individuality and uniqueness. Even the need for radical communities like burning man or festival culture in general is a response to the lack of community in our daily lives.

An in depth look into the isolated “Empty Self” can be found Phillip Cushman’s book Constructing the Self, Constructing America: A cultural history of Psychotherapy.