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Having children may be a source of joy and personal fulfilment, but a new study suggests parents are exaggerating the rewards of parenthood to justify how much money it's costing them.

The study by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario say the tendency of parents to idealize the emotional payoff of parenthood is a modern phenomenon.

Historically, relationships between parents and children were less affectionate, the researchers say. That was before changing labour laws and a trend toward city living — and away from farming — in the late 19th century and early 20th century limited a minor's potential to earn income or perform labour at home.

"Paradoxically, as the costs of raising children have grown, so too has parents' belief that parenthood is emotionally rewarding," psychology Prof. Richard Eibach and recreational and leisure studies expert Steven Mock wrote in the study, published in the journal Psychological Science.

"Our findings help to resolve this paradox by demonstrating that the costs of raising children motivate parents to idealize parenthood. The perceived joys of parenthood may thus be a rationalization of the high costs of having children."

In one experiment detailed in this study, parents were recruited in the northeastern United States and divided into two groups.

One group was given reading material that focused on the fact it typically costs more than $190,000 U.S. to raise a child to the age of 18.

The other parents were given this information, along with material that also addressed potential benefits of parenting, such as financial and practical support in old age.

The parents who were primed to be thinking mostly about the costs of children were found to be more likely to idealize parenting when answering questions about how much happiness a child brings to a parent's life.

In another test with similar preparation techniques, the parents who were preoccupied with the costs of raising children were more likely to report higher levels of enjoyment in spending time with their children.

"We found that making the costs of raising children . . . enhanced parents' idealization of the emotional rewards of having children," the study said. "These results support our hypothesis . . . that parenthood idealization functions to rationalize parental investments."

In an email, Eibach said neither he nor Mock have children. However, he added that the tendency to overstate the emotional benefits of parenting "does not mean that the decision to become a parent is itself irrational."

He said there are real incentives for parenting, such as wanting to give your child a full and rewarding life, or raising someone who might benefit society.

Eibach added that the tendency to justify choices that are costly in financial or personal terms is seen in other situations, such as home ownership or being in a demanding career.

"Cognitive-dissonance theory suggests that people will tend to idealize any activity that they have invested heavily in so that they can rationalize their costly investments," he said.

Kate писал(а):Як бабло перемогаэ зло. Задрали они все баблом мерять.

Marmot писал(а):

Kate писал(а):Як бабло перемогаэ зло. Задрали они все баблом мерять.

Так это не они: "The parents who were primed to be thinking mostly about the costs of children were found to be more likely to idealize parenting when answering questions about how much happiness a child brings to a parent's life."

nonn писал(а):почему бы не запретить копипастить больше 10 строк, а остальное своими словами. интересней же. по линку можно и потом сходить. Эт я вам обоим

Kate писал(а): пошла покушаю гармоничную уху.

Скрипка писал(а):

Kate писал(а): пошла покушаю гармоничную уху.

Гармоничная уха - это с водочкой, а без - простой гармоничный рыбный суп...

Kate писал(а):моно и хряпнуть, пока еще не замочили

nonn писал(а):Кate права про 15 стр. тока будет не про детей а про уху. поддерживаю.

nonn писал(а):Кate права про 15 стр. тока будет не про детей а про уху. поддерживаю.

Marmot писал(а):на гречку перевожу, кстати...

Marmot писал(а):

nonn писал(а):Кate права про 15 стр. тока будет не про детей а про уху. поддерживаю.

Я там в женсовете гениталии на гречку перевожу, кстати...