Miller introduces the concept of 'poisonous pedagogy,' a child-rearing approach that suppresses a child's authentic emotions and enforces obedience and guilt. She argues that this pedagogy not only shapes individuals but also infiltrates psychoanalysis and society at large, leading to a populace easily manipulated by authority figures. The biblical story of King Herod and the massacre of innocents serves as a metaphor for society's fear of children's vitality and authenticity. 'The Church’s struggle… against children’s vitality is renewed daily by training them to be blindly obedient to those in authority and to think of themselves as wicked.' | Alice Miller | Thou Shalt Not Be Aware

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The Role of 'Poisonous Pedagogy' in Society

Miller introduces the concept of 'poisonous pedagogy,' a child-rearing approach that suppresses a child's authentic emotions and enforces obedience and guilt. She argues that this pedagogy not only shapes individuals but also infiltrates psychoanalysis and society at large, leading to a populace easily manipulated by authority figures. The biblical story of King Herod and the massacre of innocents serves as a metaphor for society's fear of children's vitality and authenticity. 'The Church’s struggle… against children’s vitality is renewed daily by training them to be blindly obedient to those in authority and to think of themselves as wicked.'

-- Alice Miller