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Published Dec 8, 2022

#248: The Problem with Toxic Positivity with Whitney Goodman

Whitney Goodman and Mark Groves delve into the damaging effects of toxic positivity, examining its impact on mental health, relationships, and the authenticity void exacerbated by social media. They also navigate parenting challenges in modern society, highlighting generational differences and the crucial role of communication and boundaries.
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  • Generational Clashes

    Parent-child relationships today face unique challenges, especially with the cultural divide between generations. notes that young adults, equipped with the language of boundaries, often clash with their parents' traditional values 1. This generational gap is further complicated by the pandemic, which forced many young adults to move back home, intensifying these conflicts. shares his personal experience of moving back home and the cultural clashes that ensued 2.

    A lot of parents will kind of respond back with that, like, but I did everything for you. You're unappreciative. You don't know how hard it was. And it's like, we're just bringing up one thing doesn't mean that the whole thing was bad and having that dialogue, and that's something I'm really hoping I can help more people engage in, because I think it helps parenting and their kids have better relationships in the end.

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    Navigating these dynamics often requires open dialogue and sometimes mediation to foster better understanding and relationships.

       

    Gender Roles

    Gender roles significantly impact parenting expectations and dynamics. observes that men, especially from older generations, were socialized to be less emotionally involved in their children's lives 3. This contrasts sharply with modern expectations where fathers are expected to be more engaged. discusses the mixed messages that both men and women receive about balancing career and family roles, adding to the complexity of parenting today.

    The expectations in my age group are like, the dad is involved. This is a 50 50 thing. And it wasn't like that when I was growing up.

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    These evolving roles require parents to navigate new emotional landscapes and societal expectations.

       

    Tech Boundaries

    Modern technology profoundly affects parenting and the parent-child dynamic. and discuss how smartphones and social media have changed the way parents and children interact 4. The constant influx of information can be overwhelming, making it difficult for parents to discern the best practices for raising their children. shares a story about a friend who found liberation in a week without social media, highlighting the potential benefits of disconnecting.

    I think in small doses it's great, but when you're consuming too much, conflicting content all day long, I don't know that our brains have the ability to really make sense of that in real time and integrate all of it.

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    Setting boundaries with technology is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and mental well-being.

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