How beliefs are abandoned… or not
What happens to children when they begin to question whether Santa (or Saint Nicholas) is actually real, and eventually draw the inevitable conclusion? And what can we learn from their (and our) experience?
Santa Claus (originally Father Christmas in Britain) and his close relation, Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas, are mythical characters which, in parts of the world, are claimed to bring gifts to children, at least to those who have been nice, and not naughty. Many children believe in the actual existence of these characters, while there are pretty much zero adults who still do. How does that transition, from belief to disbelief actually happen, and is it something parents should worry about? And are there insights from this unique conversion that apply to other beliefs?
From belief to disbelief
New research led by Candice Mills, a psychologist at the University of Texas in Dallas, sheds light on the process by which children shift from belief to disbelief in the existence of Santa Claus. The researchers conducted two studies, one with 48 children aged 6–15 and their parents, and one with 383 adults about their experience as a child. Across both studies, they probed for several aspects…
