Your Job As A Parent (Do THIS Before The Age of 4) | Jordan Peterson

Summary

This transcript discusses the development of antisocial behavior in children and adolescents, focusing on how early aggression can lead to criminality in adulthood. It explores the role of personality traits like low agreeableness and conscientiousness in forming criminal tendencies. The speaker emphasizes the importance of early socialization, especially through rough-and-tumble play, which helps children regulate aggression and engage in healthy social behaviors. The transcript also critiques the education system for stifling natural play, suggesting that it inhibits the development of emotional regulation and social skills, which can lead to lifelong antisocial tendencies if not addressed by age four.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aggressive behavior in children, especially at age 2, is often more natural than learned, and most aggressive children are male.
• 😀 Children who display high levels of aggression at age 2 can often be socialized by age 4, turning into well-behaved, socially adapted kids.
• 😀 Rough and tumble play is vital for helping children learn self-regulation of aggression and helps socialize them by teaching physical boundaries and trust.
• 😀 Disagreeable children, when properly socialized, can grow into highly effective, assertive individuals who excel in challenging environments.
• 😀 Criminal behavior in adulthood is linked to a low level of agreeableness and conscientiousness, alongside high intelligence and emotional stability.
• 😀 Psychopaths often display charisma and confidence, but their lack of agreeableness and conscientiousness leads them to exploit others.
• 😀 A lack of opportunities for physical play can hinder children's development, leading to behavioral issues like attention deficit disorders.
• 😀 The school environment often suppresses natural exploratory behaviors in children, contributing to the overmedication of boys for ADHD.
• 😀 Socialization before the age of 4 is crucial for a child's development, as peer rejection during this period can have lifelong consequences.
• 😀 By age 4, children need to be socially desirable to ensure positive interactions with both peers and adults, which is essential for their mental well-being.

Q & A

What is the relationship between antisocial children and criminality in adults?

Antisocial children, especially those with conduct disorder, often grow into conduct disordered adolescents, and if not properly socialized, they can develop into antisocial and criminal adults. The development of antisocial behavior follows a progression from childhood to adolescence and ultimately to adulthood if not addressed.

How do personality traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness contribute to criminal behavior?

Criminal behavior is often linked to low agreeableness and low conscientiousness. Low agreeableness means a person is self-centered and unwilling to cooperate, while low conscientiousness means a person avoids work and seeks benefits without effort. Combined, these traits can lead to psychopathic tendencies, which, if combined with high intelligence and emotional stability, make individuals more prone to criminal behavior.

Why are disagreeable, unconscientious individuals more likely to exhibit psychopathic traits?

Disagreeable and unconscientious individuals lack empathy for others and are more likely to assert themselves aggressively. These traits, combined with intelligence and emotional stability, often create a person who is not only difficult to stop but also potentially charming and charismatic, traits commonly seen in psychopaths.

What role does rough-and-tumble play have in a child’s socialization?

Rough-and-tumble play helps socialize children by teaching them how to manage aggression, interact with others, and develop body fluency. It allows children to learn their limits, trust others, and regulate their impulses in a controlled, playful environment.

How does rough-and-tumble play impact children's development, according to the research discussed?

Research shows that rough-and-tumble play is critical for the development of social skills, especially in boys. It helps regulate aggressive tendencies and fosters emotional and social understanding. In rats, it has been shown to prevent impulsive aggression and promote the development of prefrontal cortical functions, which are important for impulse control.

What is the connection between ADHD medication and children’s natural behavior?

ADHD medication, often given to children, suppresses their natural inclination for rough-and-tumble play. This play is essential for the development of impulse control and social skills. Instead of allowing children to engage in active play, which is crucial for their growth, children are medicated, which reduces their ability to engage in healthy exploratory behavior.

Why is socializing children by age four crucial for their future development?

By age four, children need to have learned essential social behaviors to interact with peers and adults. If children are poorly socialized at this stage, they are likely to face rejection from peers and become socially alienated, which can have long-lasting negative effects on their social and emotional development.

What are the consequences of not socializing a child effectively by the age of four?

If children are not successfully socialized by age four, they are likely to face rejection from their peers, leading to alienation. This rejection can have long-term consequences, making it difficult for them to integrate into social groups, which may lead to anti-social behavior as they grow older.

What is the role of parents in socializing their children by age four?

Parents play a critical role in ensuring that their children are socially desirable by the age of four. This involves teaching them appropriate behaviors, such as sharing, not interrupting, and playing properly, which helps them form positive relationships with other children and adults.

How does the education system contribute to the development of antisocial behavior in children?

The education system, by requiring young children to sit still for long periods, suppresses their natural inclination to engage in physical play. This leads to the medicating of children, particularly boys, who are more active and need opportunities for physical exploration. Instead of supporting active play, schools often resort to medication, which inhibits children’s ability to regulate their behavior naturally.