Talking To Teens: Expert Tips for Parenting Teenagers by talkingtoteens.com
talkingtoteens.com
Categories: Kids & Family
Listen to the last episode:
John Petrocelli, author of The Life Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit, explains how parents can identify when their teens are bullshitting and how to raise teens who critically evaluate the information they encounter.
If you've enjoyed Talking to Teens, we'd love if you could leave us a five-star rating, and if you have time, a review!
Full Show Notes
As teenagers grow and seek more independence, they can sometimes wield sophisticated tactics to avoid responsibility or twist the truth to their advantage. This behavior, often dubbed “bullshitting,” can make the challenging task of parenting even more complex. But how can parents distinguish between harmless exaggerations, outright lies, and simple bullshit?
In today’s fast-paced and information-saturated world, parents must not only navigate their teen's emerging independence but also teach them to identify and resist bullshit from other sources. Teens today are bombarded with information from social media, peers, and other influences, making it crucial for them to develop robust critical thinking skills. But how can we ensure that they are equipped to navigate this complex landscape effectively?
Enter John Petrocelli, author of The Life Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit. John is not just a researcher but an expert who has delved deeply into the concept of bullshit, differentiating it from lying and studying its impacts on individuals and society. With over a decade of empirical research under his belt, John’s work provides invaluable insights into how parents can better detect bullshit and teach their teens to be critical thinkers.
Understanding Bullshit
John introduces us to the nuances that differentiate bullshitting from lying. While both bullshitting and lying involve deception, the bullshitter often doesn't care about the truth—they aim to sound knowledgeable or impressive irrespective of the facts. This indifference towards the truth can have severe implications, influencing our beliefs, memories, and critical decisions.
John shares fascinating findings from his research, including how people are more prone to bullshit when they believe their audience lacks expertise or won’t scrutinize their claims. This is where parents can start: by fostering an environment where claims are questioned and critical thinking is actively encouraged.
Why Bullshit Matters
Many parents might underestimate the significance of their teen’s bullshit, thinking it’s benign or non-malicious. However, John highlights how unchecked bullshit can cloud judgment, lead to poor decision-making, and have lasting negative impacts. It’s essential for parents to stay vigilant and model skepticism, not to erode trust, but to nurture an atmosphere where truth and logical evaluation are paramount.
Teaching Critical Thinking
In the episode, John shares actionable tips for parents to encourage their teens to become critical thinkers:
- Ask Questions: Encourage teens to think through claims by asking them, “Is that true?” or “Why might that be incorrect?”
- Model Skepticism: Show by example how to question information and sources without being cynical.
- Create a Safe Space: Allow your teen to discuss their ideas and beliefs openly, ensuring they understand it’s okay to be wrong as long as they’re committed to finding the truth.
John also emphasizes the importance of teaching teens to recognize their own susceptibilities to bullshit, which can come from a desire to fit in, sound knowledgeable, or alleviate awkwardness. By making critical thinking a fun and engaging activity, parents can help teens sharpen their bullshit detection skills without feeling attacked or dismissed.
Tackling External Bullshit
Teens today are also vulnerable to external bullshit from influencers, social media, and even certain educational resources. John encourages parents to:
- Discuss Case Studies: Go through dubious claims seen on social media together and break down why they might be misleading or false.
- Encourage Fact-Checking: Teach teens how to verify facts, check sources, and look for credible evidence before accepting claims as true.
Daily Practice
To make critical thinking an integral part of daily life, John suggests engaging in exercises that involve scrutinizing everyday statements and testing claims. This can start with simple issues—like evaluating advertising claims—and build up to more complex discussions, such as analyzing political statements or media reports.
In the Episode…
John and I explore a host of additional topics, including:
- Why experts aren’t always right
- How to constructively challenge bullshit without causing conflict
- The relationship between confidence and bullshit susceptibility
- The role of personality traits in bullshitting tendencies
By the end of this episode, you'll have gained valuable insights into fostering a bullshit-free environment and empowering your teenager with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate today’s world effectively. Don’t forget to subscribe to Talking to Teens for more expert parenting insights!
Tune in to this enlightening discussion and share it with fellow parents to help them navigate the tricky waters of teenage bullshit and critical thinking.
Follow us on Social Media! We're @talkingtoteens on Instagram and TikTok
Previous episodes
-
294 - Ep 289: The Art of Detecting Teen B.S. Mon, 13 May 2024
-
293 - Ep 288: The Balance of Power in Parent-Teen Relationships Sun, 05 May 2024
-
292 - Ep 287: The Science of Raising a Genius Sun, 28 Apr 2024
-
291 - Ep 286: Embracing Self-Compassion in Parenting Tue, 23 Apr 2024
-
290 - Ep 285: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Drama Sun, 07 Apr 2024
-
289 - Ep 284: Understanding Your Tween: The Journey of Growth Fri, 29 Mar 2024
-
288 - Ep 283: Soothe Anxiety with...Food? Thu, 21 Mar 2024
-
287 - Ep 282: The Opportunity Gap - How Schools Perpetuate Inequity Tue, 12 Mar 2024
-
286 - Ep 281: Empowering Teen Girls Sun, 03 Mar 2024
-
285 - Ep 280: The Surprising Power of Hanging Out Sun, 25 Feb 2024
-
284 - Ep 279: "What Were You Thinking?" - Inside the Teenage Brain Sun, 18 Feb 2024
-
283 - Ep 278: The New Faces of Teen Addiction Sun, 11 Feb 2024
-
280 - Ep 277: Understanding Our Kids' Online World Tue, 06 Feb 2024
-
279 - Ep 276: Your Teen's Bullsh*t Brain Sun, 28 Jan 2024
-
278 - Ep. 275: Empowering Teens to Stay Alcohol-Free Sun, 21 Jan 2024
-
277 - Ep 274: Escaping the Villain Role Sun, 14 Jan 2024
-
276 - Ep 273: Lowering the Drama in Big Family Choices Sun, 07 Jan 2024
-
275 - Ep 272: Helping Teens Discuss Anxiety Sun, 31 Dec 2023
-
274 - Ep 271: Navigating the Teen Loneliness Epidemic Sun, 24 Dec 2023
-
273 - Ep 270: Parenting Beyond Social Media Sun, 17 Dec 2023
-
272 - Ep 269: Are You a Consistent Parent? Sun, 10 Dec 2023
-
271 - Ep 268: How to Convince Stubborn Teens Sun, 03 Dec 2023
-
270 - Ep 267: Neurodivergent Teens and Communication Sun, 26 Nov 2023
-
269 - Ep 266: Is Social Media Making Our Teens Angry? Sun, 19 Nov 2023
-
268 - Ep 265: Turning Teens Into Savvy Investors Sun, 05 Nov 2023
-
267 - Ep 264: Overcoming Anxiety, Finding Well-Being Sun, 29 Oct 2023
-
265 - Ep 263: Sex, Puberty and Parenting Sun, 15 Oct 2023
-
264 - Ep 262: Built to Move: Healthy Teens Sun, 08 Oct 2023
-
263 - Ep 261: What Your Teen’s Music Says About Them Sun, 01 Oct 2023
-
262 - Ep 260: How to Turn Setbacks into Success Sun, 24 Sep 2023
-
261 - Ep 259: What’s Your Pronoun? Sun, 17 Sep 2023
-
260 - Ep 258: Privacy Versus Parenting Sun, 10 Sep 2023
-
259 - Ep 257: From Grieving to Resilient Parent Sun, 03 Sep 2023
-
258 - Ep 256: Tricky Talks: Weight, Food, and Exercise Sun, 27 Aug 2023
-
257 - Ep 255: How Much Should Parents Push? Sun, 20 Aug 2023
-
256 - Ep 254: Life Skills for Connecting with Others Sun, 13 Aug 2023
-
255 - Ep 253: How to Clean Up a Mental Mess Sun, 06 Aug 2023
-
254 - Ep 252: Feeling Blah? Recapture Life's Highs Sun, 30 Jul 2023
-
253 - Ep 251: Shaping Identity with Values Sun, 23 Jul 2023
-
252 - Ep 250: Homeschool vs Traditional School Sun, 16 Jul 2023
-
251 - Ep 249: The Keys to Instilling Confidence Sun, 09 Jul 2023
-
250 - Ep 248: What Would Gen-Z Do? Sun, 02 Jul 2023
-
249 - Ep 247: The Surprising Benefits of an Idle Summer Sun, 25 Jun 2023
-
248 - Ep 246: What to Say to Get Your Way Sun, 18 Jun 2023
-
247 - Ep 245: The Dyslexic Advantage Sun, 11 Jun 2023
-
246 - Ep 244: Financial Habits for Savvy Teens Sun, 04 Jun 2023
-
245 - Ep 243: Raising Brave Teens Sun, 28 May 2023
-
244 - Ep 242: What Kind of Parent Do You Want to Be? Sun, 21 May 2023
-
243 - Ep 241: Lonely? Master the Art of Social Gatherings Sun, 14 May 2023
-
242 - Ep 240: The Perfectionist’s Guide to Parenting Sun, 07 May 2023