Hm, well, I think it is fair to say the cult of the individual has a pedigree a few centuries long, but it seems to me like the collapse of groups and institutions (everything from religion to social activities like bowling leagues, really) and generally more atomized relationships have removed the fetters preventing it from reaching its most extreme expression. I guess this claim risks veering into "things were better in the good old days" which isn't really what I mean.