Self-help has been a growing topic in North America, studied by Americans in search to raise their overall level of happiness. According to the article "A Brief History of Self-Help", the study of spiritual fulfillment roots to the Puritans in early colonial America, in their search to better each individuals' feelings of self worth. Websters dictionary defines Self-Help as “the act or an instance of providing for or helping oneself without dependence on others.” Although Self-Help roots back to early colonial America, it wasn't until the 20th century that self-help has become such a wide spread phenomenon. Steven Starker, in his 1989 book Oracle at the Supermarket: The American Preoccupation with Self-Help says "self-help is an essential part of American culture," connecting it to
American Independence and Thomas Jefferson who idealized the new nation
as a place where "a man could rise in his station according to his
merits and abilities."
If you're interesting in Attending a Self-Help group, read into the following article on what Self-Help groups are really all about.
Self-Help Groups
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