Adults Quote by Alice Miller
“Till now, society has protected the adult and blamed the victim. It has been abetted in its blindness by theories, still in keeping with the pedagogical principles of our great- grandparents, according to which children are viewed as crafty creatures, dominated by wicked drives, who invent stories and attack their innocent parents or desire them sexually. In reality, children tend to blame themselves for their parents' cruelty and to absolve the parents, whom they invariably love, of all responsibility.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Drama of the Gifted Child, 1979
Society often blames victims, seeing children as manipulative, while they actually internalize blame for parental abuse.
In simple terms: Victims are blamed, children self‑blame for abuse.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge victim‑blaming narratives.
Themes
victim‑blaming
childhood trauma
societal narratives
psychological theory
Mood
critical
empathetic
hopeful
Type
analytical
advocacy
When to use this quote
- counseling
- education
- legal advocacy
- parenting support
Key Concepts
psychology
family dynamics
social justice
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions about children’s motives need re‑examination?
- How can we shift from blame to accountability?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated cultural beliefs is slow and meets resistance.
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
