I just had a thought and could use some feedback.

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Imagine observing a society from the outside. Half of the younglings are asked from a young age what they want out of the other half. They are constantly encouraged to cultivate a list of things they want. Meanwhile, the other half is not only not allowed to expect anything, in fact all of their desires are immediately shot down, they are expected to fulfill the wishes of the first half. To the point that they have to give up their own desires in order to "mature" (aka grow up), but only in that it helps them fulfill these wishes, any maturing in another direction or even away is seen as an attack on the wishers. And, should there be any resistance, there's an insinuation of a fate worst than death (similar to how religious folk use hell to scare people into their school of thought).

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The most ironic part is the ones that are most capable of fulfilling these wish lists are those that have focused on their own self-improvement, but then there's a pat on the back and an expectation to change course. And should there be any resistance this individual just needs to be worked on/worn down/caressed (though any attempt to do so to the wishers is brutally struck down). It's easy to see how this could shape a society, especially once enough people have bought into it.

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I guess my question is, who's really living the delusion?