Spoilt generation's classless 'little emperors' hold all power
By Fiona Macrae and Paul Sims, Daily Mail
Published: September 14, 2009, 23:04
London: A growing lack of adult authority has bred a "spoilt generation" of children who believe grown-ups must earn their respect, a leading psychologist has warned.
The rise of the "little emperor" spans the class divide and is fuelling ills from childhood obesity to teenage pregnancy, Dr Aric Sigman's research shows.
Attempts to "empower" children and a lack of discipline have also fostered rising levels of violence, at home, at school and in the street.
Sigman, a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, said nursery-age children are becoming increasingly violent and disrespectful towards teachers, "parent battering" is on the rise and the number of policemen attacked by children is soaring.
Sigman said: "Children of the spoilt generation are used to having their demands met by their parents and others in authority, and that in turn makes them unprepared for the realities of adult life.
"This has consequences in every area of society, from the classroom to the workplace, the streets to the criminal courts and rehabilitation clinics. Being spoilt is now classless, children are now spoilt in ways that go far beyond materialism.
"This is partly the result of an inability to distinguish between being authoritative versus authoritarian, leaving concepts such as authority and boundaries blurred.
"And the consequences are measurable - Britain now has the highest rates of child depression, child-on-child murder, underage pregnancy, obesity, violent and antisocial behaviour and pre-teen alcoholism since records began."
For his report, The Spoilt Generation, he drew on 150 studies and reports, including official figures on crime and data on parenting strategies.
Taken together, they showed many of the problems blighting "broken Britain" are linked to lack of discipline.
This is being exacerbated by misguided attempts to give children more control over their lives.
Calling for "commonsense policies" to put children in their place, Sigman said: "There should be an absolute presumption both in law and in policy that adults 'know better' and are in the right unless there are exceptional reasons."
By Fiona Macrae and Paul Sims, Daily Mail
Published: September 14, 2009, 23:04
London: A growing lack of adult authority has bred a "spoilt generation" of children who believe grown-ups must earn their respect, a leading psychologist has warned.
The rise of the "little emperor" spans the class divide and is fuelling ills from childhood obesity to teenage pregnancy, Dr Aric Sigman's research shows.
Attempts to "empower" children and a lack of discipline have also fostered rising levels of violence, at home, at school and in the street.
Sigman, a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, said nursery-age children are becoming increasingly violent and disrespectful towards teachers, "parent battering" is on the rise and the number of policemen attacked by children is soaring.
Sigman said: "Children of the spoilt generation are used to having their demands met by their parents and others in authority, and that in turn makes them unprepared for the realities of adult life.
"This has consequences in every area of society, from the classroom to the workplace, the streets to the criminal courts and rehabilitation clinics. Being spoilt is now classless, children are now spoilt in ways that go far beyond materialism.
"This is partly the result of an inability to distinguish between being authoritative versus authoritarian, leaving concepts such as authority and boundaries blurred.
"And the consequences are measurable - Britain now has the highest rates of child depression, child-on-child murder, underage pregnancy, obesity, violent and antisocial behaviour and pre-teen alcoholism since records began."
For his report, The Spoilt Generation, he drew on 150 studies and reports, including official figures on crime and data on parenting strategies.
Taken together, they showed many of the problems blighting "broken Britain" are linked to lack of discipline.
This is being exacerbated by misguided attempts to give children more control over their lives.
Calling for "commonsense policies" to put children in their place, Sigman said: "There should be an absolute presumption both in law and in policy that adults 'know better' and are in the right unless there are exceptional reasons."
