Great Depression Paradox: Children Survived, Then Thrived
National crises can actually have positive effects on the young, building character as much as destroying it.
An incredible study found that economic deprivation correlated with greater success.
Source: Corbis Historical
While there’s still much we don’t know about the health effects of the coronavirus on children, there’s a growing consensus about the psychological damage it has already inflicted. From the disruption of schooling to forced quarantines to the trauma of watching parents lose their jobs, the pandemic threatens to become what’s being described as a once-in-a-generation disaster.
These concerns should be taken seriously, but so should the history of prior disruptions. Collective crises can sometimes have paradoxically positive effects on children, building character as much as destroying it.