Children of the 60s and 70s built resilience through neglect, not better parenting, psychology suggests

Children growing up in the 1960s and 1970s may have developed greater emotional resilience not because of superior parenting, but due to a level of daily neglect that fostered self-regulation and problem-solving skills. Psychology suggests that the comforts and increased attention of modern child-rearing can actually impede the development of these crucial life skills.

This perspective posits that the relative independence afforded to children in those decades allowed them to navigate challenges on their own. This process, it is argued, naturally built a capacity for self-management and adaptability. Unlike today, where children might be more closely supervised and their needs immediately met, the previous generation learned to cope with boredom, frustration, and minor setbacks independently.

The argument implies that while modern parenting aims to protect children from hardship, it may inadvertently create an environment where developing essential coping mechanisms becomes more difficult. The ability to self-soothe, resolve conflicts without constant adult intervention, and persevere through difficulties are seen as foundational to emotional strength, and these were potentially honed through the less-structured upbringing of past generations.