Aim. To attempt a critical analysis around the questions: What socio-cultural processes lead to the destruction of bonds and relationships? Do activities linked to the dominant logic of instrumental reasoning: self-improvement, self-investment, self-realisation, the primacy of profit and loss, alter the socio-emotional competences of subjects and prevent a life of well-being? Materials and methods. The whole reflection is embedded in a critical discourse analysis, whose main task is to unmask the myth of well-being, understood exclusively as subjects taking care of themselves, neglecting the common good. Selected research and analysis on cultural narcissism was used. Conclusion. Satisfactory and sustainable social relations are a priority and a condition for the survival of the community. Nowadays, they are significantly weakened and require pedagogical intervention in the field of rational coding of the contents of the culture of instrumentalism, excess, and narcissism. The observed disappearance of social-emotional competences related to empathy correlates to a large extent with cultural determinants, including the logic of instrumental reason instead of moral and subjective reason. Digital distance cools emotionality, which in turn has a direct impact on loneliness, confusion, and lack of well-being in relationships.