427. Bad Therapy, Weak Parenting, Broken Children | Abigail Shrier
Feb 29, 2024
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In a thought-provoking discussion, Abigail Shrier, a best-selling author known for "Irreversible Damage," dives into the troubling state of modern therapy and its impact on children's mental health. She critiques how overprotective parenting and misguided therapeutic practices can hinder emotional resilience in youth. The conversation touches on the alarming trend of misdiagnosis and the need for children to confront life's challenges, promoting independence over dependency. Shrier emphasizes the importance of traditional values in fostering well-adjusted individuals.
Overdependence on therapists can diminish parents' authority and worsen children's mental health.
Excessive focus on avoiding childhood trauma hampers resilience and coping skills development.
Maternal instincts and societal changes contribute to children's lack of independence and resilience.
Encouraging children to handle conflicts independently fosters self-reliance and social skills.
Deep dives
Parental Reliance on Therapists and Loss of Authority
Parents often rely heavily on therapists to guide their parenting, leading to a loss of parental authority. Therapists, sometimes inappropriately, reify issues in children, exacerbating problems such as anxiety, depression, and a lack of agency. This over-dependence on therapists extends beyond actual therapy sessions to schools and parenting decisions, contributing to a rise in psychological interventions with detrimental effects on children's mental health.
Negative Impact of Therapeutic Interventions on Mental Health
The rise in mental health interventions coinciding with a decline in mental health indicates the harmful effects of therapy on children. The focus on therapy, including trauma-informed care, not only in therapeutic sessions but also in schools and parental guidance, has led to increased psychological interventions with adverse outcomes like anxiety, depression, and a loss of agency among the younger generation.
Adverse Effects of Overprotection and Elimination of Competition
The elimination of competition and overprotection of children has deprived them of resilience and the ability to handle failure. The context of shielding children from competitive environments and sheltering them from loss has led to a lack of agency and a fear of trying new things or making decisions independently. Overprotection and fostering a fear of competition have contributed to a generation of children ill-equipped to face challenges.
Maternal Instincts and Impact on Child Rearing
The shift in child-rearing practices, possibly influenced by women's delayed maternal instincts due to societal changes, has led to an overemphasis on shielding children from failure and trauma. The role of maternal instincts, amplified by fewer children and increased resources, might contribute to an environment where children are overly dependent on parental guidance and lack the necessary resilience to face challenges independently.
Promoting Independence in Children
Encouraging children to negotiate interpersonal conflicts without adult intervention is vital for their growth. Children in Israel are expected to handle tasks like taking buses independently at a young age, fostering self-reliance and social skills. Allowing children to engage in activities independently, like visiting a bakery or conversing with neighbors, builds resilience and confidence by navigating challenges themselves.
Challenging Overprotective Parenting
Overemphasis on preventing any childhood trauma has led to excessive monitoring and coddling of children, hindering their development. The fear of children experiencing any form of trauma has led to a culture of overprotection and avoidance of minor discomforts. Resilience is the norm, and overly protecting children may hinder their ability to navigate obstacles and setbacks effectively.
Reclaiming Traditional Parenting Values
Emphasizing the role of parents in instilling values and fostering independence in children is crucial. Taking a step back from excessive professional advice and allowing children to face challenges independently leads to their growth. By communicating values to children and promoting independence through responsible tasks, parents can raise self-sufficient individuals who navigate the world with confidence.
Dr. Jordan Peterson speaks with best-selling author Abigail Shrier. They discuss her landmark first book, “Irreversible Damage,” as well as her latest publication, available now: “Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up". From this, they break down the state of the therapeutic industry, the overgrown tendency of professionals to “treat the well, rather than the sick,” the existence and need for necessary trauma, and the now-generational impact of harmful therapy, and by extension, harmful parenting.
Abigail Shrier received the Barbara Olson Award for Excellence and Independence in Journalism in 2021. Her best-selling book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters (2020), was named a “Best Book” by the Economist and the Times (of London). It has been translated into ten languages. Her upcoming publication, Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up is slated for release in early 2024.
- Links -
2024 tour details can be found here https://jordanbpeterson.com/events
Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/
For Abigail Shrier:
On X https://twitter.com/AbigailShrier?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Website https://www.abigailshrier.com/
Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Therapy-Kids-Arent-Growing-ebook/dp/B0CBYHTV2D
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