In 'The Power of Bad', John Tierney and Roy F. Baumeister discuss the negativity effect, which is the universal tendency for negative events and emotions to affect us more strongly than positive ones. The book explains why bad experiences stick with us longer than good ones, how this bias governs our moods, drives marketing, and dominates news and politics. It also offers practical strategies to recognize and manage this negativity bias, helping readers to avoid its pitfalls and use its power for positive results[3][4][6].
In the second edition of 'Free-Range Kids', Lenore Skenazy provides a compelling and entertaining look at how modern culture fosters excessive worry about children's safety. Using real-world examples, advice, and humor, Skenazy argues that parents and educators can step back to allow children to develop independence. The book includes strategies for rejecting media-driven fear, giving students more independence in schools, and navigating a culture filled with warnings and fears. It also features 'real-world' free-range parent experiences, exercises for parents, and a critique of urban myths about safety risks.
The book explores how the ideas 'what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,' 'always trust your feelings,' and 'life is a battle between good people and evil people' have become embedded in American culture. These 'Great Untruths' contradict basic psychological principles and ancient wisdom, leading to a culture of safetyism that interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. The authors investigate various social trends, including fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the impact of social media, as well as changes on college campuses and the broader context of political polarization in America.
In "Free to Learn," Peter Gray argues for a more child-centered approach to education, emphasizing the importance of unstructured play and exploration in a child's development. He challenges traditional schooling methods, advocating for increased autonomy and freedom for children to learn at their own pace and in their own way. Gray draws on anthropological research and evolutionary psychology to support his claims, highlighting the detrimental effects of excessive adult supervision and control. The book promotes a shift towards a more playful and less structured learning environment, fostering creativity, self-reliance, and a love of learning. It offers practical advice for parents and educators seeking to create more enriching and empowering experiences for children.
I sat down with Lenore Skenazy, founder of the ‘free-range kids’ movement, to explore how fear-based parenting is holding our children back. Once dubbed “The World’s Worst Mom” for letting her 9-year-old ride the New York City subway alone, Lenore has since become a powerful voice challenging the culture of overprotection and anxiety that dominates American parenting. She explains how safetyism, media sensationalism, and misguided laws have created a generation of kids who are less confident, less capable, and more dependent than ever before. Lenore is also the co-founder of Let Grow, an organization dedicated to making it “easy, normal, and legal” to get kids out into the world.
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Follow Lenore on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/FreeRangeKids
Learn more about Let Grow: https://letgrow.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12566296070&gbraid=0AAAAACiZd3IWxylN25lbtWazgN-I9BMWb&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoZbBBhDCARIsAOqMEZXmIfShjY9u4V6kj3Z9BCi7HiM5WBNdeXKwydzyDSMxpAXmzKJ5vfcaAtRPEALw_wcB
“Off the Rails” mini-doc: https://youtu.be/bxPPJVbygzs
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Outline:
[0:00] The World’s Worst Mom
[10:16] How the “news” made parents afraid
[20:06] Expert culture overcomplicated parenting
[24:59] “Law and Order” isn’t real life
[30:38] We need action leaders, not thought leaders
[38:47] Parental anxiety is a societal mental illness
[45:47] How “Let Grow” became a clinical treatment
[57:40] Kids need to learn not to outsource their discomfort
[1:05:20] The creative process, hero’s journey, and freedom
[1:13:05] How the government makes the problem worse
[1:27:10] Did wealth and progressivism ruin childhood?
[1:37:56] Will the collapse of experts reset parenting?
[1:42:03] Phone surveillance eliminates trust building
[1:49:36] The tide might be turning
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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QyjPLDmvWQ8
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