RDFRS US:
The mission of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science is to support scientific education, critical thinking and evidence-based understanding of the natural world in the quest to overcome religious fundamentalism, superstition, intolerance and suffering.
The Magic of Reality
for the iPad
Sean Faircloth:
Attack of the Theocrats!
J. Anderson Thomson Jr. MD:
why we believe in god(s)
RSS Feeds
j mills
Studies have shown that the effect of peers on morality is greater than the effect of parents, but that is missing the point. Our relationship with our parents, our upbringing and their (our parents') morals, influences who we surround ourselves by... who we choose as our peers.
It may be "comforting" for parents to convince themselves that their errant teenager has "got in with a bad lot", but the truth is, their teenager is PART of a bad lot. Just as they are being influenced by their peers, they too are likely to be influencing others.
Children with good self-esteem and basic trust who have empathy and conscience, choose peers that continue that effect and avoid those who undermine it (who make them feel bad about themselves)and vice versa.
Permalink Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:56:00 UTC | #410582