Whether involutionary culture will ultimately lose its influence depends on the dynamic changes in various social, economic, and cultural factors. As a social phenomenon, the evolution of involutionary culture is not linear; it may involve adjustment, restructuring, or transformation, rather than simple extinction. Involutionary culture will not completely disappear, but it will shift from vicious competition to benign competition, and its influence will gradually weaken. Its core lies in the combined effects of social resource allocation mechanisms, changes in population structure, and policy guidance, rather than a simple "disappearance" or "permanent existence." Involution refers to meaningless internal consumption and competition.
The Impact and Roots of Involutionary Culture
Involutionary culture manifests as excessive competition among individuals or organizations with limited resources, leading to diminishing marginal returns and wasted social resources. For example, in education, students constantly "pull higher" for GPA and certificates, potentially neglecting skills development; at the corporate level, homogeneous competition and price wars consume resources without bringing overall revenue growth. The root causes of this phenomenon include a singular social evaluation system, uneven resource allocation, institutional inertia, and conservative tendencies in cultural traditions—all factors that exacerbate internal friction.
The Potential Decline in the Culture of Involution
As society places greater emphasis on high-quality development, policy adjustments and market mechanisms may curb vicious competition. For example, income distribution reforms could expand consumption, improve innovation incentive mechanisms, and address involutionary competition among enterprises to optimize resource allocation. Simultaneously, the younger generation's demands for work-life balance and personal fulfillment may drive the diversification of social evaluation systems, thereby weakening the appeal of the culture of involution.
The Culture of Involution and its Individual Impact
For most ordinary people, they are excluded from this circle of interests, possessing only limited resources. When social resources cannot meet their needs, they resort to vicious competition, desperately preventing others from acquiring resources to maintain their own interests. Individuals gain resources by suppressing others, leading to negative mental and physical health consequences. This behavior disrupts social order, deprives people of fairness and justice, and causes unnecessary internal friction and mutual exploitation. People become like machines and animals, focusing only on immediate material gains, losing wisdom and human spirit.
Analysis of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Involution
- Positive Impacts
To a certain extent, involution can stimulate a competitive spirit within small groups, keeping members energetic and motivated, which is positive in some ways. For example, involution in learning, activities, and sports is often beneficial to our physical and mental health.
- Negative Impacts
However, involution also has many drawbacks. When involution degenerates into meaningless striving for excellence, such as excessively pursuing negative things, it not only harms our bodies but also distorts our thinking. This lazy mindset leads us to indulge in meaningless involution within our comfort zone, becoming an excuse to release inertia, and may even affect those around us.
Conclusion
Overall, the phenomenon of involution has become a significant factor hindering social progress and development. In modern society, many people face helplessness and despair, and the phenomenon of involution precisely reflects the helplessness and despair of young people in this regard. However, for those who are truly dedicated to scientific research and earn rewards through online writing, their efforts and achievements are ignored and envied by these less fortunate individuals. The phenomenon of involution reveals the helplessness and despair of young people, emphasizing the need for continuous effort and the potential difficulties they may face. This phenomenon not only runs counter to the smart and innovative society we advocate, but also foreshadows a future where involution may become more severe, and many people will face even more difficult earning challenges.