An action orientation allows a person to focus on a task without regard to one’s current emotional or physical state, while a state orientation causes one to think of oneself. Shrier argues that therapists and educators encourage a state orientation, which makes successful completion of tasks less likely and adds to anxiety and depression.

ADHD refers to a condition marked by overstimulation and distractibility, and it afflicts over 15 percent of boys in the US. Shrier argues that ADHD does not meet the criteria for a psychological disorder, and medications for its treatment have negative side effects and do not cure the condition. She cites this as an example of over-diagnosis and treatment and recommends that parents find other ways to deal with energetic and disorganized children.

Shrier provides examples of varying degrees of adversity, such as poverty, longing for home among immigrants, or simply getting picked up late by a parent. Adversity implies difficulties and misfortunes but does not rise to the level of trauma or dysfunction on a clinical level. Shrier alleges that educators conflate minor adversities with trauma and treat all children as in need of psychological help.