From time immemorial, Santa Claus has always been a very beautiful and shimmering image in the minds of children. How many children have dreamed of a single day in the year, when I will write to you, tell me about the good things you have done and do not forget to “ask” for a gift from your childhood.
The tinkling of golden bells, the reindeer pulling the sleigh, the gentle old man coming in from the chimney and lovingly placing the gift as a reward in the sock beside the bed… had followed him to sleep.
The pink dream has nourished the child’s soul, watered a cool stream of water into a childhood corner. Then like the miracle of a fairy tale, my childhood memories sparkle with indescribable joy.
The children were always told about an immortal man, living in the far north, knowing everything the children wanted, riding in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, and he “suddenly” “enter” into the house through the chimney, despite the fact that there are not many houses with chimneys today.
Studies show that up to 83% of 5-year-olds still believe that “Santa Claus” is real. Why? (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Image).
Although there are many contradictions or even absurdities in this story, the surprising thing is that the children still believe this to be true. There have been studies that show that up to 83% of children at the age of 5 still believe in Santa Claus. Why is that?
The root of this paradox lies in the nature of children , who are prone to believe everything they hear instead of something that makes sense. Author Richard Dawkins, a researcher in behavior and evolutionary biology, in a 1995 essay argues that young children are easy to believe and believe in almost everything, but it is in fact a developmental advantage.
Young children actually receive and analyze information in a very logical way. Children have a unique but similar way to adults to decide what to believe and what not to believe. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images).
Dawkins describes it quite convincingly, using the example of children living near a swamp infested with crocodiles. Children who are skeptical and tend to consider their parents ‘ “don’t swim in that swamp” advice, he explains, have a lower chance of survival than children who don’t question it at all. adult advice.
Children easily trusting people is not a new thing. Along the same lines, philosopher and psychologist Thomas Reid from the 18th century shared that young children have strong beliefs and trust everything that those around them tell them.
However, they do not only obey and trust immediately. According to recent studies, young children are actually receiving and analyzing the information they have in a very logical way. In fact, children have a unique but similar way to adults to decide what to believe and what not to believe.
So what methods do adults use to decide what they should believe, and what evidence is there that children are the same way?
One of the ways adults learn something new is by listening to another person. Children learn new things in the same way. (Photo: US Marines, taken by Sgt. Aaron Hostutler).
We will focus on three things:
Let’s start with the context in which we acquire new knowledge.
Imagine that you are reading a newspaper that includes information about a new species of fish – let’s call them “scammers” for a moment, and then continue to imagine reading the article in different contexts. The first scene is when you are in the waiting room, waiting for your turn to see the doctor, you read that piece of news from a well-known journal in the scientific world.
In another context, while queuing in front of a grocery store and poring over a newspaper that covers commerce, you come across a news article about this new discovery. I’m sure the surrounding context will influence your assessment of the authenticity of that new fish.
“We did the same test with the kids. We told the children about a strange new animal that they had never seen before, like the ‘snake fish’.
A group of children hear the news in a context full of mystical elements, for example, the night before they heard about dragons and demons that would kidnap children if they were bad. The rest of the children learned about this ‘snake fish’ in a school-like context, and the fish was of interest to scientists and veterinarians.”
Children aged 4 to 5 will immediately confirm that “scam fish” really exists when they are just heard in a school context, the opposite result occurs for the rest of the children.
One of the primary ways we adults learn something new is by listening to another person. Imagine that you heard about this new strain of fish from a marine biologist, instead of from your next door neighbor, who often spreads rumors about aliens abducting humans.
Authentic analysis from an expert or from a trusted source makes you confident and quickly draw conclusions about the existence of this fish.
Parents and those around them are said to be the factors that keep the “Santa Claus” story alive. In a recent study, 84% of parents took their children to meet at least 2 Santa Claus stuntmen during the Christmas season. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images).
In another research project, we introduced children to unusual animals such as fish that live in the ocean, which range from the ordinary to the unbelievable like fish the size of a fish. cars, or even as myths as fish that live on the moon.
And we let the kids find out the truth on their own, no matter if they meet the creature or ask someone. They also heard commentary from a zookeeper (expert) or from a cook (non-expert).
We’ve found that children will believe the real thing and reject the myth. Children make decisions by comparing information with what they already know.
For incredible animals (like car-sized fish) that may exist but are rare or exotic, kids will choose to trust the zookeeper over the chef. In other words, children want expert advice, just like us adults.
If children are really so smart, why do they still believe the story of “snowman”?
The reason is quite simple: Their parents and everyone around them did everything to make the children believe in the miraculous Santa Claus story. In a recent survey, nearly 84% of parents took their children to meet at least two people posing as Santa Claus during the Christmas season to confirm he was real.
The Elf on the Shelf is a comic book for young children about the dwarfs, whose task is to monitor and inform Santa Claus about the children’s docile situation during the Christmas season, now has become a brand worth millions of dollars. Not only that, the U.S. Postal Service even runs a “Letter from Santa” event, providing a personalized response service for each child sending a letter to Santa.
Believing in Santa Claus, the fact that the children are practicing self-development, scientific reasoning. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images).
Why do adults have to go so far with happy lies? What reason do parents have to try to climb to the roof on Christmas eve, impersonate the sound of Santa’s heavy walking, and ring Christmas bells?
The answer is actually quite simple: Children are not gullible and gullible to everything we say. Therefore, we adults have to create real, lots of evidence, from the bells on the roof, the “flesh” Santa at the mall, or even the junk food from the house. “someone” was left over the next morning – “he must have been hungry when he had to deliver loads of presents on a cold night”.
With the above preparation, it is difficult for the children not to believe in Santa Claus. In fact, believing in Santa Claus is a way for children to practice their scientific reasoning abilities.
First, the children evaluated the source of the information. One study found that children tend to trust adults more than their peers.
Next, the children used a variety of evidence (such as an empty glass of milk or a half-eaten cookie after Christmas Eve) to come to a factual conclusion. The author’s other studies have also shown that children also use evidence to rate the fictional character “Sweet Candy Witch”, coming in the night to take away candy, and leaving many attractive toys.
Finally, research also shows that as children think more deeply, they often realize the absurdities in the above mystical story. How could a fat man fit into such a narrow chimney? Or how can reindeer fly without wings?
Many parents worry that continuing to tell the mystical story of “Santa” may damage the children’s trust in their parents. Many philosophers and bloggers have similar thoughts and argue about this “traditional lie”, some even arguing that in the long run, children can no longer listen to their fathers. mother again.
So as parents, what should we do?
There is no scientific evidence to worry about harmful effects on children when it is discovered that Santa Claus is just a fictional character created by their parents. Moreover, children not only have the ability to find out the truth, but the story of the snowman also gives them the opportunity to practice this skill.
So, if you think that inviting a Santa impersonator to your home can make your family happier and more cozy during Christmas, go ahead. The kids will be fine. And then, they might learn something new.