The Coddling Of The American Mind Analysis

In “The Coddling of the American Mind”, Lukianoff and Haidt’s discuss how college students have demanded for trigger warnings, warnings issued before a sensitive topic is discussed. Students are asking for this because they want to be exempt when it comes time to discuss such topics. While the authors believe that, providing students with trigger warnings causes them to become safeguarded from controversial topics, and will not benefit them in the future because they will be not be able to constantly avoid sensitive topics. Lukianoff and Haidt describe something similar when they provide the example of a woman who is afraid of elevators. They indicate that if you want her to prolong her fear you should help her avoid them, but if you want to

Baldwin writes, “To defend oneself against a fear is simply to insure that one will, one day, be conquered by it; fears must be faced” (Baldwin 27). In making this statement, he is urging people that suppressing your fears will cause them to regulate your life. In order to gain control, Baldwin suggests facing your fears; denial will only prevent you from fully living. This relates back to the woman who is afraid of elevators. Both authors conclude the idea of confrontation as an alternative to suppression. In “Sonny’s Blues”, the Sonny’s brother avoids discussing the death of his daughter and his feelings toward his brother. This causes him to be constantly angry; it is not until he finds music that he finally begins to cope with his pain. This is shown when Sonny’s brother says, “for, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted and how we triumph is never new, it always must be heard” (“Sonny’s Blues”). Sonny’s brother has accepted his pain and is now starting to face it. The resemblance of the thoughts presented would suggest that Baldwin would agree with Lukianoff and Haidt against the application of trigger