Parents want to make dreams through their children

Most parents want their children to fulfill their unfinished dreams, because they see their children as part of themselves.

The idea that parents try to fulfill unfinished dreams through their children has been mentioned by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung in their theory. But nobody proves it.

Parents may want their children to fulfill their failed dreams.(Photo: howtoplaypiano.com.au)

Recently, Eddie Brummelman, from Utrecht University, Netherlands, and colleagues conducted research to verify the theory. They surveyed 73 couples with at least one child from 8 to 15 years old.

First, parents are asked how much they see their children as part of themselves. After that, they were asked to write down their unfinished dreams, or that of an acquaintance. Finally, the parents answered questions related to the desire to have their children perform.

As a result, awareness of an unsuccessful dream of an acquaintance does not affect the wishes of parents to their children. However, when parents think about their own dream, they begin to hope that their children will perform on their behalf.

The more parents think their children are part of themselves, the more they want their children to achieve their unfinished dreams.

"Some people believe that this may weaken the autonomy of children or cause pressure on them , " Brummelman said.