# Are Mormons really that happy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 23, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096 "2012-07-23T01:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wiredbadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wiredbadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wiredbadger)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096/41 "2012-07-26T16:07:38Z")
i would suspect that any belief system that inhibits the social interaction of the human animal with their own kind and with the environment, in such a profound way as to in some way manifest or manufacture perspective of the universe that is uniquely separate then the rest would certainly lead to depression and ranting dissent or squirming physiological dissertation. most animals in a cage do not show happiness unless they have no idea of the cage they are in. to me, it is like asking if a schizophrenic experiences a joyous and meaningful life. i would suppose it is all relative. you see, i think mainly it comes down to Socrates assessment of the trial, when meletus was asked by him did anyone tell him (Socrates) that he was distorting the minds of the youth of Athens. meletus admitted that no , no one informed him. at which point Socrates said , no one intentionally does himself harm, surely if i knew that i was doing wrong i would have stopped. but then later, as we find out Socrates rationalizes that he can not stop being who he is. so change and adaptation to him was not possible. he ends up killing himself . there can be no depression greater then one where a person chooses to forfeit their own life based on a belief system. so to a much lesser degree i would assume that Mormons, by nature of their identity certainly would have a degree of depression. i hope made sense. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096/42 "2012-07-26T17:47:47Z")
> [@wiredbadger](#): > > squirming physiological dissertation Band name! ---
**Author:** ![wiredbadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wiredbadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wiredbadger)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096/43 "2012-07-26T17:56:43Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Band name! hahaha thanks. you are right not bad actually! i am just really tired, heh. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096/44 "2012-07-27T06:57:50Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > One of my friends says that there’s a high rate of drug abuse among Mormon teens, as well as a very high rate of meth abuse. She also said that yes, things are very superfical and Stepford wive-ish in Utah. If you restrict alcohol, the restrictions on other substances become less of an issue, hence the drug/meth use makes sense. Also, some people use alcohol to self-medicate for their depression, people who follow teetotal faiths would have to use antidepressants instead, hence the higher rate of antidepresant usage is not necessarily indicative of a more depressed population. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096/45 "2012-07-28T14:46:41Z")
My mother’s family is of Danish descent. She’s been depressed pretty much all of her adult life, as have her four sisters. So, statistically, it may be true that Mormon Danes are happy, but our family didn’t get any luck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mormons-really-that-happy/629096.md?page=2)