For Your Own Good: The Roots of Violence in Child-rearing by Alice Miller (Paperback book)

Why do some people inflict cruelty on others — and why do so many of us accept or even justify it?

In this groundbreaking and profoundly influential work, world-renowned psychoanalyst Alice Miller exposes the hidden damage caused by “poisonous pedagogy” — the traditional methods of child-rearing that demand blind obedience, suppress emotions, and use humiliation, punishment, and manipulation “for the child’s own good.”

Drawing on chilling historical examples, literary works, and her deep clinical insight, Miller reveals how the repressed pain and rage from childhood trauma are unconsciously passed down from one generation to the next, fueling cycles of violence, authoritarianism, and emotional suffering in society.

Originally published in 1980 and still strikingly relevant today, For Your Own Good is a courageous, eye-opening examination of how the way we treat children shapes the adults — and the world — we become. Essential reading for parents, educators, therapists, and anyone interested in breaking the cycle of abuse and creating a more compassionate future.