The prof might be groping around a real core issue, but he really picked some unfortunately example. I'm just going to pile on his exam time example really hard.
Ok, you tell a bunch of young adults that what they do over the next 2-4 weeks is super important. They will put effort into something, and the end result is a number, and the higher the number, the better chances they have at getting what they want in life (later). And no one will ever give a shit about what happens over those next few weeks except the number. Well, then you'd actually be a total dummy not to ruthlessly optimize for that number. Dress like shit? Why not. Take adderall? Why not. Sleep whenever you get a chance? Why not.
Maybe university students are a bit too sensitive about things (I actually agree with that statement). But many (most?) university courses are designed such that a student can typically get what they need (a big number at the end of it) by applying the bare minimal amount of effort outside of certain crunch times, and then dropping all other aspects of life during crunch times. If I can get good marks by sacrificing ~4 weeks of my life (and frankly looking like complete shit) per term, while letting me still go out and hang out and have fun and get drunk and laid and high for the rest of the term - hell, why not. It's not like your missing out - everyone else makes the same calculations. You're not going to be able to hang out with your friends during exams anyways.
Ok, you tell a bunch of young adults that what they do over the next 2-4 weeks is super important. They will put effort into something, and the end result is a number, and the higher the number, the better chances they have at getting what they want in life (later). And no one will ever give a shit about what happens over those next few weeks except the number. Well, then you'd actually be a total dummy not to ruthlessly optimize for that number. Dress like shit? Why not. Take adderall? Why not. Sleep whenever you get a chance? Why not.
Maybe university students are a bit too sensitive about things (I actually agree with that statement). But many (most?) university courses are designed such that a student can typically get what they need (a big number at the end of it) by applying the bare minimal amount of effort outside of certain crunch times, and then dropping all other aspects of life during crunch times. If I can get good marks by sacrificing ~4 weeks of my life (and frankly looking like complete shit) per term, while letting me still go out and hang out and have fun and get drunk and laid and high for the rest of the term - hell, why not. It's not like your missing out - everyone else makes the same calculations. You're not going to be able to hang out with your friends during exams anyways.