In the most recent issue of the American Psychologist, the American Psychological Associations journal, an article on parenting caught my attention. The authors of the research article suggested that traditional views regarding the importance of a parent's role in the formulation of a child's worldview have been overstated. These researchers argued that social factors and personality, along with parental influence forms a child's view of the world as she develops. I recently withdrew my membership from the APA after over 15 years in the organization. Articles like this one heavily influenced my decision.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think that the authors were totally wrong in their conclusions. In fact, one of the things I appreciate about the APA is the rigorous process that one has to go through in order to publish in their journal. My argument is not with the findings, but with the presentation of those findings. The APA, along with a number of other very liberal organizations around the country, has purposefully set about to question and to upset traditional thinking. There are some traditions that need to change and I am not opposed to asking important questions. The implication of this article is that parents are not as critical in child development as was once thought. However, in fact, this is not what the data in the article showed.
What the researchers found was that social and personality factors had a significant role in the outcome of children who participated in their study. The researchers propose that outcomes are not the result of parenting alone. We have known that for years. I have three children and all three of them have had clearly different personalities from birth. There is also no question that our environment has a great influence on who we are and how we behave. It is for that reason that conventional wisdom has always told us to be careful of the friends we keep.
The authors' proposal that "a parent's role isn't as important as we used to think," implies that we never considered there could be other factors. In other words, they said that things other than a child's parents influenced him and from that they extrapolate that parents are not as important as we used to think. After carefully reading this article, I did not see anything in it that conflicted with "traditional wisdom." It is my opinion that this organization and articles like this one have as a part of their purpose to weaken what we perceived as the traditional family and family values. In today's culture, I think parents more often underestimate the importance of their role rather than over estimate it. Studies presented like this one perpetuate irresponsible thinking.
The APA has a history of manipulating what we in the mental health profession consider "normal." For example, homosexuality used to be considered a mental disorder. In the 1970's, a vocal homosexual contingent within the organization forced that language out of our diagnostic manuals. In the past year the APA actually published an article that was the first step in normalizing pedophilia between consenting partners.
My ravings on the actions of a professional organization actually have a purpose for you. I encourage you to be very careful when you read sound bites about studies like these. I believe that the general public is smarter than they are given credit for. I know you can see through the smoke, mirrors, and hidden agendas of organizations like the APA. Do not discount all research that contradicts your beliefs nor should we discount all research from the APA or any organization. On the contrary. Closed-minded thinking causes us to stagnate. Rather I propose that you read and analyze this type of material critically, just as I would hope you are doing with every article I write. Critical thinking will keep us honest.
