Principles of Child Development An undisturbed communal socia | Human Nature

Principles of Child Development

An undisturbed communal social life is the first requirement for successful adaptation to the demands of the community. We can easily teach children to adapt so long as their attitude towards their environment is not a hostile one. War within the family can be eliminated only when the parents are capable of minimizing their own striving for power to such a degree that it is not a burden upon children. If, in addition, the parents understand the principles of children’s development, they can avoid the development of exaggerated ‘straight line’ character traits, in which courage becomes impudence, and independence becomes raw egotism. Similarly they will be able to avoid the exaggerated strictness that produces servile obedience. Mistakes of this sort may cause children to be shut in, afraid of telling the truth for fear of the consequences.

Pressure, in child-rearing, is a two-edged sword – it produces the semblance of adaptation. Compulsory obedience is, however, only apparent obedience. Children’s psyches reflect their general relationship to their environment. Whether all the obstacles that may conceivably be present act directly or indirectly upon them will also be reflected in their personality. Children are not usually capable of evaluating outside influences; and the adults around them either know nothing of them or cannot understand them. The pattern of the children’s difficulties, plus their reaction to the obstacles in their way, constitute their personality.

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