That doesn't jive on a historical basis when and where enlightenment era thinking and classical liberalism were much higher then they are today. Unless I am misreading your comment and you are simply talking about hedonism.
Then they grow up, find a lover, and realize they need to give up parts of their individuality in order for the relationship to work.
Whaaaatt?? Give up my individuality? But I was raised to enshrine this above all else! Heck no, I'd rather divorce!
This results in low self-worth of many people in bad circumstances, lack of compassion towards them from those who are better off, and sometimes active disdain from those who were lucky enough to climb out of poverty, as an overcompensation for their own past hardship.