Pros And Cons Of Children Conformity

Why do children often abide by specific precedents and rules, which usually restrict their individualism, when they are young? Growing up, children are expected to adapt to certain standards established and enforced by their guardians. They are often confined by their parents to meet their merits and not necessarily follow their own intuition. Also, when children enter school, they begin to conform to the habits of their peers because of this regulated and controlled upbringing. All of this could be harmful to the young because this could limit their potential and overall, disable them from pursuing their own happiness. Children should be encouraged to express their individuality in all social circumstances because they are happiest when they …show more content…
Parents should teach their children certain lessons in order for them to be deferential and generous people but they should not confine them to conform to civilization (Tamis-LeMonda) because there is a difference between being a considerate person and being an individual. Everyone should be respectful to each other but that does not mean someone should uphold others’ standards of originality rather than their own. Parents act as an example to their children as they develop because they are then expected to respond and conform to the social aspects demonstrated by their parents (Henry). This pressure, as well as inexperience, inclines them to oblige to their parents’ demands and adapt their manners as well as their personality to those desires. As said by Carolyn S. Henry, “The process of becoming responsive to parental expectations (conformity) is a central process of socialization during adolescence….” which means that children naturally abide by their parents’ wants so they should encourage the young to follow their own desires and ambitions instead in order to create confidence in children. Catherine S. Tamis-LeMonda writes, “Parents’ beliefs and practices reflect the norms and expectations of the cultures in which they are embedded and are core conduits for perpetuating ‘systems of cultural priorities’”. Parents ultimately establish …show more content…
Catherine S. Tamis-LeMonda states, in regards to intrinsic motivation and individualism, “This value is often implicitly linked to other traits such as optimism about one’s chances of success. In the USA, for example, optimism is viewed as a critical precursor to happiness, psychological well-being, health and longevity”. When people gain the capability to truly think for themselves, they are happier because accomplishing one’s goals and following an individual incentive promotes credence in their own ideas and being. Parents should advocate this mindset to compliant children to help obviate feelings of insecurity and conforming behavior. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout had to endure insecurity and shame due to the persecution from her restrictive aunt but was then reassured by her father’s encouragement, “...furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father’s lonely life… She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge, but when I asked Atticus about it, he said there were already enough sunbeams in the family and to go on about my business, he didn’t mind me much the way I was” (Lee 108). This heartening stimulates children to uphold their own expectations and disregard the opinions of others, resulting in more strength to the individual. To summarize, there is power in an individual accepting himself and