Do You Want Your Kids Arguing Like a Politician?

"Social comparison is an innate, automatic process that helps us understand how our world works. It goes far beyond, 'Do I look as good?' or 'Do I have enough followers?' It is also, 'How do people act here? What gets attention and approval?'"

"The most visible models for how conflict works are politicians, influencers, and public figures who treat personal attacks, denial, obstruction, and retribution as winning strategies and signs of strength."

"Children as young as five often mirror their parents' political attitudes. They draw conclusions about behavior, not policy, and watch who wins and how, who has power, and how they treat others."

"Decades of research show that observing behavior and outcomes influences which behaviors are internalized as acceptable and effective. The lessons kids see are not good ones."

Social media impacts children's mental health by shaping their understanding of conflict and behavior. Kids observe how public figures handle disagreements, often learning negative strategies like anger and insults. They internalize these behaviors as acceptable, which can lead to harmful social interactions. Children as young as five mirror their parents' political attitudes and draw conclusions about behavior rather than policy. The lessons they learn from observing adults are significant and can influence their social development and conflict resolution skills.

Read at Psychology Today