Parents often feel that they need to have intelligent and talented children, in order for them to succeed. This pressure comes from the society, and the culture within which we live. People realize that higher levels of education are needed to obtain occupations with fair salaries. This is highlighted within Western civilization, as it is throughout the mass media. A perfect example would be the slogans used by several colleges and universities like, "Get the career you have always dreamed of," or similar sentiment, explaining that education leads to one's future success.
It is all about comparisons between individuals and the idea of competition. Students and co-workers need to be motivated and encouraged, and comparisons will help them to outperform their counterparts. In order to be the most intelligent student, to receive scholarships, obtain careers with excellent wages and benefits, one must be better than the others that they are competing against. For instance, the Bayley Scales test, is based on comparative measures. If a child scores poorly on the test, parents tend to think about the worst possible scenarios. They often panic and believe that they need to intervene so that their children can get the assistance needed to be at the expected learning level. Parents want what is best for their children, and that is understandable, but there are times when parents need to take a step back. This can allow their children to reach goals and objectives, without putting too much pressure on them.
That being said, there are positive ways to motivate children, and encourage them to achieve success in various domains without the use of coercion. Preschool intervention is one example, especially for disadvantaged populations. The environment and the interaction between parents and their children, plays a crucial role in one's development. Moreover, there may be ways to make people smarter to some extent.
