Understanding the Parent Amplification Effect

Do you know what the parent amplification effect is? Do you know how to use it your (and your kids’!) benefit? “Because of children’s dependency on their parents, any parental remark – positive or negative – gets magnified in the child’s mind,” says Adam Galinsky, a social scientist, business school professor, dad of two boys, and author of Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself & Others. That’s the parent amplification effect. “An offhand compliment can inspire a lifelong passion, while a critical comment may lead a child to abandon an activity altogether,” Adam says. In this conversation, Adam, Jen, & Janet discuss how parents can use their words to positively impact their children. Takeaways: Our words have meaning, but we won’t always say the right thing. Offhand comments can have lasting effects on a child’s self-esteem. Parents are not perfect and will make mistakes. Children are always observing, even when we think they aren’t listening. Awareness of our impact as parents is crucial for effective communication. Guilt can be constructive, while shame can be harmful. Children are resilient and can overcome negative experiences. We can learn to be more inspiring leaders and parents. Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode: Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself & Others How to Speak Up for Yourself — Adam’s TED talk Listen to Boys & Young Men – ON BOYS episode Nonverbal Communication with Boys — ON BOYS episode Sponsor Spotlight: IXL The world’s most popular subscription-based learning site for K–12! Get 20% off at ixl.com/TODAY. Sponsor Spotlight: Hello Fresh Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/FreeONBOYS