CITE: DeMause, L. The History of Childhood. The Psychohistory Press. 1974
You can read the book here
SUMMARY
“The History of Childhood” is a seminal work in the field of psychohistory and presents deMause’s theories on the evolution of childhood from ancient times to the modern era. The book suggests that the history of childhood can be viewed as a series of stages, with each stage being characterized by different cultural attitudes towards children and childhood. The book argues that childhood in ancient times was much harsher than in modern times, with infanticide, child sacrifice, and other forms of child abuse being commonplace. The book also examines the role of religion, politics, and other social factors in shaping attitudes towards childhood throughout history.
HIGHLIGHTS
- DeMause’s theory of the evolution of childhood from ancient times to the present
- The different stages of childhood throughout history and how they have been shaped by cultural attitudes and social factors
- The role of religion, politics, and other social factors in shaping attitudes towards childhood
SELECTED QUOTES
- “The history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have only recently begun to awaken” (p. 1).
- “In every historical epoch, the progressive advance of the status of children has been a function of the general advance of civilization” (p. 4).
- “In the process of humanizing childhood, we must first understand how dehumanized it has been” (p. 5).
- “The evolution of childhood is the key to the evolution of culture” (p. 10).
- “Childhood is the time when the human personality is being formed” (p. 12).
- “The evolution of childhood is the most important single subject in the history of mankind” (p. 13).
- “The future of humanity depends on the quality of childrearing” (p. 515).
Note: The number of page may vary depending on the edition.
