Reviewing Perils of a ‘Me-First’ Upbringing

Re: “ ‘Me-first’ kids” (by Barbara Bronson Gray, Oct. 31).

What did child psychologists expect? Their trendy behavioral theories and social tinkerings created more problems than they ever solved. Permissiveness was “in,” discipline was “out,” and family authority was cast aside after serving for centuries as stabilizing, civilizing centers of society.

The “me generation” was encouraged to be defiant, to reject traditional values and to identify themselves as “the center of the universe.” Then they were urged to “do their own thing.” When they did--the consequences lie shattered around us.

Instead of standing on the sidelines criticizing kids’ behavior today--as Stanford psychologist Carl Thoresen does, while he blames the situation on television and spins even more theories about what it all means--he and the rest of his profession should admit responsibility for their part of the mess and do their best to recapture common sense and restore respect for the family structure.

M. JAFFE, Thousand Oaks