Willpower Ch: 9

Reality TV and Parenting

• Middle-class parents are outsourcing childcare to British nannies.
• Reality TV shows portray children with extreme behavior issues, likely exaggerated for dramatic effect.
• Shows like Nanny 911 and Supernanny show home environments with children exhibiting problematic behaviors.
• Misbehavior examples include screaming, spitting, and physical aggression.

The Self-Esteem Movement

• High self-esteem research initially correlated with academic success in students.
• The research indicated connections between low self-esteem and social problems like drug addiction and crime.
• Psychologists like Nathaniel Branden emphasized the importance of self-esteem as a solution to various psychological issues.
• Educators and psychologists encouraged parents to focus on praising children and encouraging self-esteem and mutual admiration in an attempt to foster success.
• The emphasis on self-esteem resulted in practices of abundant praise, trophies for all, and mutual admiration.

Critiques of Self-Esteem

• Scientific studies questioned the causal link between self-esteem and academic achievement.
• Studies found that high school grades predicted twelfth-grade self-esteem, not the other way around.
• Experiments proved that boosting self-esteem in students with poor grades did not enhance subsequent performance.
• High self-esteem did not prevent drug use or other negative behaviors, instead, correlating with potential aggression and destructive behavior.
• The movement contributed to a rise in narcissism in young people.

Exceptional Asian-Americans

• Asian-American children have lower narcissism levels.
• Asian cultures prioritize self-control, discipline, and delayed gratification.
• Asian-American children excel academically and professionally despite exhibiting lower average IQ scores; instead they demonstrate greater practical application of intelligence.
• This is directly correlated to the cultural emphasis on hard work and self-discipline.

Discipline and Self-Control

• Children, and even infants, need clear expectations and consequences for their actions.
• Discipline, when applied consistently, helps children develop self-control.
• The key elements of effective discipline: severity (less important), speed (importance of immediate feedback), and consistency (utmost importance).
• Even when children misbehave, parents are encouraged to be calm, consistent, and brief with their discipline.
• The "Ferberization" technique, where infants are gradually allowed to adjust to time alone in bed (without parental interference), and other approaches can be used to help babies and toddlers.

Self-Control and Adolescents

• Adolescence is associated with a decline in self-control.
• External monitoring and communication (especially during calm times), as well as encouraging goal-setting, are effective.
• Teens crave structured environments and guidance.
• Clear rules and communication are key in managing teen behavior.

The Perfect Storm of Dieting

• Losing weight is a popular but often unsuccessful goal.
• Self-control, while important for success in other areas, is not a definitive factor in weight maintenance.
• The body fights back against drastic diet changes through a variety of responses.

The What-the-Hell-Effect

• Dieters who exceed their calorie limit often give up and overeat, thinking their diet is ruined.
• Dieting may lead to counter-productive 'what-the-hell' binges, with the result of less controlled eating.
• Monitoring calorie intake and being aware of the body's inner cues is recommended.

The Dieter's Catch-22

• Dieting often depletes self-control, making it harder to resist food cravings.
• Willpower is needed for avoiding food but needs glucose to function; thus, a paradoxical situation arises.
• Emotional states can deplete willpower, and lead to overeating.
• Dieters should avoid extreme measures. Instead, emphasize sustainable changes.

Planning for Battle

• Realistic goals and long-term strategies are key to sustained weight loss.
• Commitments to avoidance mechanisms (keeping certain foods out of reach), regular self-monitoring and external support are encouraged.
• Gradual lifestyle changes produce lasting effects.
• Implementation intentions: formulating specific action plans for when facing certain food-related situations, such as "if I'm at a party, I will resist the pizza."
• Social environments and peer groups can shape food choices.

Monitoring and Habits

• Frequent self-weighing is unexpectedly helpful for maintaining weight loss.
• External monitoring cues like wearing a belt, or having a food diary, are helpful in keeping track of weight and eating habits.

Explore the intersection of reality TV and parenting, focusing on how shows like Nanny 911 may exaggerate children's behavior issues. This quiz also delves into the self-esteem movement's impact on parenting practices and its correlation with academic success and social problems. Join us to understand these contemporary parenting challenges.