I trace it back to the post WWII Dr. Spock fetish many had with raising chilluns in a namby-pamby fashion. Let's blame him for succeeding generations, used to having someone make it all well and quick, for them. Like you said, the world's a nasty place and someone has to deal with the nastiness, rather than whine for someone else to come deal with it for them.

If three or more people think you're a dimwit, chances are at least one of them is right.