Depression is defined as “the condition of feeling sad or despondent” (Dictionary.com). Feeling depressed is common for most peop

Depression is a mental disorder that plagues more people worldwide than any other disease. Being depressed can be predisposed to a certain percentage of people who have a history of depression in their family. Depression can also arise because of an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain. However, these two categories of depression cannot possibly describe the depression that infests millions of people worldwide. In order to broaden the spectrum of depression, external forces must be observed. In this case, materialism in today’s society is a major driving force behind depression. People are envious of other people’s “toys” and “prizes.” This causes a need for more consumption among today’s society. The more goods a person obtains, the more happiness they should receive. However, as a person’s “toys” increase, so do a person’s expectations. Eventually these expectations exceed the person’s buying power and depression settles in again. This cycle continues to repeat itself, and the marketing world of materialism continues to increase the level of depressed persons in the world.

Feelings of depression are not solely brought on by biological factors. Genetics, the branch of biology that deals with heredity, often play a huge role in whether or not a person will be depressed. A person may feel as if his or her life is in shambles, and the poor quality of his or her life is determined by daily events. However, a small percentage of people are susceptible to depression from the moment they are born. Case studies have shown that if “one or both of your parents has a vulnerability to depression, then it can be transmitted to you” (Causes of Depression). These unlucky people have a trait in their genes that predispose humans to feelings of unhappiness or depression.

In the eyes of McCandless, an adventurous spirit is the most desirable trait in a person. He believes the worst thing that could happen to a person is for him or her to get trapped by the conformity of materialism. To avoid the conformity that had been trapping him to a depressive life in Georgia, McCandless sets out on a journey to find his inner-self.

The theory that biological and genetic factors are the most influential elements in perpetuating depression makes sense because depression is a mental disorder and most mental disorders are heavily influenced by biology and genetics. Inheriting the “trait” of depression is much like inheriting traits that lead to academic or athletic success. Although outside factors such as one’s social life, career goals, or parental influence may help effect the decisions a person makes, genetics determine the basic make-up of a person’s future. If a person suffers from a history of depression in his or her family, or has a biological condition that causes depression, he or she will fight in the same way to avoid depression as someone who was not “gifted” with academic or athletic ability. On the opposite end of the spectrum, someone who is extremely burdened with depression by genetic factors is likely to suffer from depression all of his or her life. The case is the same for someone who is blessed with academic or athletic ability. He or she is likely to have a stable career in business or sports du

Some topics in this essay:
Depression Seventy, Basketball Association, Ed Diener, Causes Depression, University Illinois, Domestic Product, Depression Fluctuations, Chris McCandless, United Feelings, Dictionarycom Feeling, causes depression, today’s society, suffer depression, genetic factors, biological genetic, biological genetic factors, feelings depression, person depressed, happiness level, biological factors, environmental factors, today’s society depression, confusion low self-esteem, factors lead depression, history depression family,