Atomized Individuals

by Zoe Pollock

Mark Lilla explores China's one-child policy and its psychological repercussions, through the story of a father distraught over his only son's breakup with a girl:

It worries him that the popular culture now promotes dating and youthful romantic love, something he feels Chinese young people aren't psychologically prepared for, especially the breakups. The more he spoke, the more anguished he sounded about losing his son in other ways, too. Even as a youngster the boy would stay...