Actually, I think the people's of Northern Europe are a little more mature than most Americans. In America we have generations of people living off the legacy of the greatest generation, who fought and died so future generations could disappoint them.

@floWteiuQ I think also, that the idealizing of capitalism, to the point of rejecting all social responsibility, may also help to keep people childish. Since spoiled children are the most needy and the most inclined to think that merely buying what is on offer, over and over again, is the route to happiness. That is therefore a type of personality encouraged by both the producers of material goods and the profit making churches, since that way they get to both sell the most goods, and the most shallow, cheapest and easily produced of goods and ideals. A lack of critical judgement is what the market wants more than anything.

@Fernapple absolutely... spot on comment.

@floWteiuQ Thank you.