"The reason why parents mistreat their children has less to do with character and temperament than with the fact that they were mistreated themselves and were not permitted to defend themselves"
- Alice Miller
About this Quote
This quote by Alice Miller recommends that the mistreatment of kids by their moms and dads is not necessarily a reflection of their character or temperament, however rather an outcome of their own experiences of mistreatment and lack of opportunity to protect themselves. Miller suggests that parents who mistreat their children are most likely to have experienced mistreatment themselves, and were not provided the opportunity to defend themselves. This lack of opportunity to protect themselves may cause a cycle of mistreatment, as the moms and dad might secure their own disappointments on their children. Miller's quote highlights the value of offering children with the chance to protect themselves, in order to break the cycle of mistreatment.
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