I have a theory and I am not saying that it is a good thing and/or bad thing. It is neutral and natural.
I think that since the dawn of the Industrial revolution, there has been an increase in both individualism (for a whole host of reasons) and self-reflection. Even though our basic behaviors (i.e; drinking, sex, work, labor, etc) are all fairly still just as prominent and existent at the same rate as before...we as a nation, and as a globalized world, are very analytical of our lives because we are aware of all of our options. We almost have too many options. There is also no clear sense of right and wrong...which I completely agree with because...who the hell has the authority to decide what is right and what is wrong? But, since we have come so very far both philosophically and scientifically...there is so much uncertainty and confusion....it is like one type of mind trying to operate in a body it wasn't designed for. Our minds like ignorance....even though it was our minds who were curious enough to explore and to discover and invent....some part of our minds still would rather stay ignorant...that still wants mom to tell it what it should be doing.
Our minds still like knowing that what we are doing is "right", who we are worshipping is "right", that our life partner is "right", etc. With so much emphasis on individual happiness and individual self-centeredness, we have strayed so far from our roots as beings who need to be occupied and ignorant and happy....that we are confused
We are a baffled culture now. We don't know what we are doing. And it scares us...but at the same time, who the hell wants to be ignorant?