Wednesday, March 9, 2016
8:00 PM
"Pursuing Perfection: The Narcissistic Over-investment in Our Children"
with David Sawyer, MD
It is normal upon the birth of one's child to feel that this child is special - a wonder, incomparable, a miracle, in effect, perfect. It is also normal for this feeling to recede over time and to be replaced by the understanding that one's child is subject to human limitations, like all children. But the overvaluation of one's own child persists, either in greater or lesser degree. It serves parents' need for self-esteem, among other things. We can see it manifested in a certain cultural emphasis on raising our children to be perfect. We will address the questions of what drives this phenomenon, what are its effects, and what we should do about it.
More info here.