Why are so many young Americans choosing to “lie flat” — giving up on chasing success and instead retreating into screens, games, and low-effort living? Once seen as a uniquely Chinese response to overwork and social pressure, the 躺平 mindset is now quietly spreading in the U.S., fueled by burnout, disillusionment, and a sense that effort no longer pays off. In America, it often shows up as students dropping out, young adults quitting the rat race, or people losing motivation altogether — symptoms of what psychologists call a crisis of self-efficacy.

 

Let's join Damon, a university professor broadcasting live from Seattle, for a deep discussion about the rise of “lying flat” in the U.S., how it’s taking root, what’s driving it, and how it compares to its Chinese counterpart. Together, we’ll explore whether this trend reflects societal failure, a rational response to modern stress, or perhaps even a quiet rebellion. Let's take a smart, timely look at a growing cultural shift that’s redefining ambition, motivation, and what it means to live well in a high-pressure world.

 

为什么越来越多的美国年轻人开始“躺平”了——不再拼命追求成功，而是沉迷于屏幕、游戏和低欲望生活？曾经被认为是中国年轻人应对过劳和社会压力的一种独特心态，如今，这种“躺平”模式也悄悄在美国蔓延。被倦怠、幻灭感，以及“努力好像也没用”的无力感所推动，美国版的“躺平”更多体现在学生退学、年轻人退出职场竞争，或彻底失去动力——心理学家称之为一种“自我效能危机”。

 

这次，让我们和来自西雅图的大学教授Damon一起，深入聊聊美国“躺平”现象的崛起：它是怎么出现的？背后是什么在驱动？又和中国的“躺平”有什么不同？我们会一起探讨，这到底是一种社会的失败，一种对现代压力的理性反应，还是一种无声的反叛？让我们一起用聪明又有温度的视角，看清这场正在重塑“野心”“动力”和“好好生活”定义的文化转变。