Dual Worlds: Navigating Social Roles in Childhood
An amazing play of social roles unfolds in a child's life – one mask at home, another at school. Among peers, there is an atmosphere of mutual understanding, fewer expectations, and less judgment, which allows the child to be sincere and open. In this circle, the child finds support and security that inspires self-expression. However, in relationships with parents, a different dynamic emerges – one marked by a fear of negative reactions, anxiety over judgment, or even the loss of love. Consequently, the child may deliberately embellish his actions or hide certain feelings in order to maintain emotional balance within the family. This dualism does not so much indicate poor upbringing as it reflects a natural process of adaptation, where each environment imposes its own expectations. Understanding this multifaceted behavior is important for both parents and educators, since it is through feeling supported that a child learns to be true to himself in various aspects of life.
How can the difference in behavior of a child who hides the truth from their parents but is open with classmates be interpreted?The difference in the child's behavior can be explained by the fact that he adopts different social roles in his interactions with parents and peers. On one hand, the child may feel that with classmates he can be himself because there are fewer expectations, less judgment, and a higher level of mutual understanding. On the other hand, in the presence of parents, he may fear negative reactions, judgment, or loss of love if he were to fully open up; hence, he chooses to hide the truth to protect his feelings and the family relationship.As noted in the quote, the child exhibits different behaviors depending on his surroundings:"Most often, the child deceives us not with words, but with actions. He is not the same in our eyes as he appears to the teacher, peers, younger children, and older ones. He is different everywhere – and therefore, is he deceitful everywhere?" (source: link txt).Furthermore, many parents tend to believe that the secrecy of teenagers stems from a lack of upbringing, but often it is merely a way to protect their feelings or avoid judgment:"Many parents hold a biased view. They think that teenagers hide their lives due to a lack of upbringing or discipline. This is far from the truth. Teenagers often hide things to protect their feelings, or because they are afraid of being judged." (source: link txt).Thus, the child's behavior – hiding the truth from parents while remaining open with classmates – can be interpreted as an attempt to maintain emotional security in each sphere: with parents, where he feels potential pressure and fear of negative reactions, and with peers, where he experiences more freedom and support. This reflects the natural process of a child's adaptation to the different social roles and expectations imposed on him by family and friends.