BOOK CLUB: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Discussion Led by Robert Foltz, Psy.D.
April 2025
10-11am PT / 12-1pm CT / 1-2pm ET
Discussion Guide, Quiz, and Evaluation will unlock two months before the scheduled live discussion date.
After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on many measures. Why?
In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies.
Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the “collective action problems” that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood.
Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes—communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children—and ourselves—from the psychological damage of a phone-based life.
Homestudy requires completion of quiz and evaluation.
Optional live discussion will be held online via Zoom. Link to access will be provided to participants individually.
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This Homestudy, when completed in its entirety, offers 6.0 CEs for Psychologists, 6.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 6.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 6.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 6.0 ISBE CPDs for Illinois Educators.
This optional Live Discussion, when attended in its entirety, offers 1.0 CEs for Psychologists, 1.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 1.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 1.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 1.0 ISBE CPDs for Illinois Educators.
After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on many measures. Why?
In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies.
Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the “collective action problems” that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood.
Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes—communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children—and ourselves—from the psychological damage of a phone-based life.
After attending this introductory-level program, participants will be able to:
- Describe the “Great Rewiring of Childhood.”
- Outline the decline of play-based childhood.
- Outline the rise of phone-based childhood.
- Discuss the four features of the “real world,” as outlined by Haidt.
- Discuss the four features of the “virtual world,” as outlined by Haidt.
- Discuss Haidt’s four foundational reforms proposed as solutions to the Anxious Generation.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.3: Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, or research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
Cost of program does not include purchase of the book.
General Admission (Homestudy only): $60
General Admission (w/ live discussion): $70
The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Alumni (Homestudy only): $50
The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Alumni (w/ live discussion): $60
Students (Homestudy only): $30
Students (w/ live discussion): $40
Live Discussion is limited to 20 participants.
(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Robert Foltz, Psy.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Robert Foltz is a clinical psychologist with over 35 years of experience in the field. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate training, he worked in psychiatric inpatient units with adults and youth struggling with severe emotional and behavioral disturbances. Dr. Foltz has devoted considerable focus to the treatment of severely disturbed adults and adolescents in Inpatient and Residential Treatment settings. Since early in his studies, Dr. Foltz has been interested in the psychological treatment of conditions such as schizophrenia. As his clinical experiences evolved, he became invested in exploring the interplay between psychotherapy and psychopharmacology in the treatment of severe conditions. Dr. Foltz has provided clinical services, as well as administrative services in Residential Treatment settings around the Chicago area for over 15 years. He has consulted with school districts in the assessment of troubled youth and has maintained an active private practice since 1999. Dr. Foltz is also on the Advisory Board for the Association of Children’s Residential and Community services.
His professional and clinical interests include child / adolescent psychopathology, psychopharmacology, the psychological & neurological impact of trauma, and critical evaluation of evidence-based treatments. Recent research included the Adolescent Subjective Experience of Treatment study. This project involved assessing youth, currently placed in residential treatment, on what they perceive as the most effective (and ineffective) components of multidisciplinary care. Areas of inquiry included psychotropic medications, psychotherapy, and milieu treatments. The project also assessed levels of trauma, strength-based strategies, and measures of resiliency. Research results were used in several dissertations and publications. Results of this study have been presented at the American Psychological Association in 2011, 2012 and 2014, as well as conferences for Reclaiming Youth International and the American Association of Children’s Residential and Community services.
Dr. Foltz also recently coordinated a project evaluating APA-accredited Clinical Psychology programs and their curriculum requirements related to psychopharmacology and trauma-related courses. This project resulted in two articles being published in APA journals.
Dr. Foltz regularly presents on topics of psychotropic use in children/adolescence, trauma, evidence-based treatments, and diagnostic issues in youth. Dr. Foltz has also been involved in program development, training, and program outcome analysis with the Office of Refugee Resettlement. He has also assisted in the development of technology solutions to improve decision-making in child welfare systems toward improving outcomes for children and families.
Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Random House.
See book for additional references.
Target Audience: Mental Health Professionals, Organizational Leaders, and Students
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 6.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Illinois Educators. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing professional development units. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an approved provider for continuing professional development by the Illinois State Board of Education.
School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity.
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.
The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School is not affiliated with the author, publisher, or any book sellers, and receives no financial support from the sales of the book.