The Traditional Image of Childhood in Western and Eastern Cultures

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of the article is to compare different models of education in traditional societies of the West and East, to build models of the image of childhood in Western and Eastern cultures. The study is based on comparative and comparative typological methods, which allow us to identify similarities and differences in childhood models by comparing the image of childhood in different cultures. The usage of diachronically-synchronic approach helps to reproduce of childhood models in Western and Eastern cultures at the traditional stage of the formation of society is based on data from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The analysis of the system formation of family values and punishments of children in traditional societies of the West and East is carried out. The system of inculturation of the younger generation in a traditional society is defined. The parenting systems among different peoples of the world differ at the traditional stage of the formation of society. Many factors influence the formation of these differences: mentality, religion, lifestyle, and climatic conditions. A comparison of the Western and Eastern ancient models of parenting allows us to determine the ethnic identity of the Western and Eastern worlds of childhood, the system of punishment in relation to children, the age limits of childhood, the age-specific characteristics and gender aspects of childhood culture, the upbringing models of the younger generation in different microcultures, intergenerational relationships.KeywordsImageChildhoodWestern cultureEastern cultureSocietyJEL CodesA11A12D19I29I30J12J16J79O57