This paper introduces a new public health framework by examining the societal impact of emotional underdevelopment. It argues that the absence of emotional intelligence and maturity contributes to widespread harm—manifesting in mental illness, relational instability, burnout, and civic fragmentation.

This research paper explores how affective polarization and the erosion of civic empathy are reshaping public life—not just politically, but psychologically. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and emotional regulation theory, it offers a framework for restoring emotional clarity across deep divides.