Thanks for the thorough comment!

Have you ever heard the term anomie? It comes from Durkheim and refers to the state brought about by a mismatch between individuals and the society in which they find themselves. Anomie results in a breakdown of order because the prevailing order doesn't work for people. Part of what I'm trying to illustrate with this story is how this breakdown happens along psychological lines.

I can see how positive psychology could be useful, especially in institutional settings like schools. And especially with young people, who may be more open to reinterpreting their experiences.

One thing I'm working up to in this story is the question of what happens when masses of people begin demanding more meaning and purpose in their lives. The idea of people demanding these things is kind of abstract and hard to picture, but I nonetheless feel like this may be a direction things are headed in.