University of the East

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Manila, Philippines

Effects of Scolding Children in Developing a Melancholic Personality

A Project Proposal

Submitted to:

Professor Ted Erguiza

ZGE1104 Mathematics in the Modern World

Proponents:

ZGE1104-JO2A

Lorenz Philip Arias

Trisha Castillo

Adrian Paul Cubelo

Rescidelle Leyva

Stephanie Hency Payabyab

Nelissa Joy Tangonan

Date:

January 6, 2020
 I. Project Title: Effects of Scolding Children in Developing a Melancholic Personality

II. Background and Statement of the Problem

Filipinos, as observed by the researchers, widely accept the culture of scolding one’s child as
a parenting strategy in implementing discipline inside the family. But, how does it affect the latter
part of the child’s life? It is primarily observed to directly affect the personality type that the child
acquires. According to Galen of Perganum (2000 BC), a Greek physician, writer and philosopher,
there are four types of personality; sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic and choleric. Although this
concept was one of the most ancient views on personality development, psychologists still use the
four temperaments as an indicator of the type of personality of a person. The researchers observed
that there might be a significant relevance between raising a child and personality development,
and thus conducted this study. This research is all about the personality development of a
person and how the parents’ way of disciplining their children affects the upbringing of the
individual. The researchers aim to learn the specific effect of the trauma in being scolded on the
personality development of a child. Based on primary observations, on a casual day-to-day basis,
those who experienced strict parental discipline are most likely to be a melancholic person, while
those who have been spoiled are mostly Sanguine. This study will prove whether the assumption
of scolding or spanking children brings out melancholy in them is correct or not. The researchers
are objective with the goal to identify the specific factors relevant to parenting during the
development of one’s personality.

III. Literature Review

According to a study in Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida, a child who experienced
repeated scolding and received negative feedbacks would often manifest as psychological
imbalance in one’s personality. The person will most likely turn out to be hot-headed,
pessimistic, easily offended, short-tempered and they often feel like their freedom is threatened
(Derogene, 2007).

Also, verbal and physical scolding is stereotypically more aggressive on boys rather than girls.
Although, the child’s gender does not dictate the severity of the effects of scolding. Meanwhile,
“parental warmth” is the one dimension that caused children’s response to the physical and
verbal abuse to subside (McKee et al., 2007).

Likewise, verbal abuse is also a primary indicator of developing psychiatric risks according
to The American Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses the high critical level of verbal
victimization as a factor of psychiatric symptoms that has been underrated such as, depression,
anxiety and anger-hostility (Teicher et al., 2006). More over, personality changes due to
negative stigma such as emotional abuse and verbal victimization (Gibb et al., 2008).

In addition, the treatment children get from their parents is a factor in acquiring higher risk
of getting depressive and anxiety tendencies. It has a great impact on the emotional state of the
person and it was proven that [in the Journal of Marriage and Family,] children who came
from families with severe maltreatment practices result to ineffective adaptive attributions like
socializing and coping with the external world (Rodriguez, 2003).

In relation to having a melancholic personality, BioMed Central Psychiatry states that 12%
of the youth worldwide has a mental disorder. In Asia, the primary factors in developing a
mental illness are: living in slums, child physical abuse, exposure to family violence, family
involved in a major conflict, impaired reading and vocabulary, school failure, parental
education, socioeconomic status, academic ability etc. (Fatori et al., 2013)

Moreover, children who develop melancholic personality later on in their lives tend to be
self-reliant individuals who are thoughtful, reserved and often anxious. They often strive for
perfection within themselves or surroundings, which lead to tidy and detail oriented behavior.
These individuals tend to be relaxed, peaceful, quiet and easy going. But on the other side, they
can have some problems that can hinder their potential or ruin their lives overall since they
often have a behavior that experiences emotions on extreme level whether they are happy or
gloomy. There can be no in between sometimes in these individuals, which in return can cause
high expectation then lead to disappointment and eventually lead to depression.

Furthermore, certain factor which is, if not, the most important when it comes to parenting,
is the impact of verbal aggression and abuse tends to be discounted and marginalized in this
generation and there seems to be an agreement that such abuse are “only words”. Constant
criticism from parents will eventually grow on the child and will make them feel inadequate
and will cause them to find approval from their parents and if they don’t get the appraisal that
they are longing from their parents, they will find it from external sources outside the family,
it can be their peers, friends or even the ones they are in a relationship with. With that saying,
they, in turn can be easily influenced by the opinions or criticisms of others and can lead to
immorality or make them feel lost since they always rely on the standards of others and can’t
establish a standard on themselves on what they truly want. Humans are hardwired to pay more
attention to potentially dangerous or negative possibilities, the evolutionary reasons for this are
pretty clear since registering potentially dangerous threats and keeping themselves alive was
key to the survival of early humans and our contemporary brains are no different. That applies
to words as well, we respond more deeply and quickly to criticism than to praise. Words are
still damaging when you have one loving parent who uses his or her words with care and one
who is verbally aggressive and abusive.

IV. Materials and Method

A. Data to be collected
B. Methods of data collection and instruments to be used
C. Procedure
D. Method of Analysis/Statistical Treatment
V. Conclusion

VI. References

Derogene, L. P. (2007). SCOLDING: Why It Hurts More Than It Helps. Childhood

Education , Vol. 83, Iss. 5, 330-331.
McKee, L., & al., e. (2007). Harsh Discipline and Child Problem Behaviors: The Roles of
Positive Parenting and Gender. Journal of Family Violence , Vol. 22, Iss. 4, : 187-196.
Teicher, M. H., & al., e. (2006). Sticks, Stones, and Hurtful Words: Relative Effects of
Various Forms of Childhood Maltreatment. The American Journal of Psychiatry , Vol. 163,
Iss. 6, 993-1000.
 Gibb, B. E., & al., e. (2008). Emotional Abuse, Verbal Victimization, and the Development
of Children's Negative Inferential Styles and Depressive Symptoms. Cognitive Therapy and
Research , Vol. 32, Iss. 2, 161-176.
Rodriguez, C. M. (2003). Parental Discipline and Abuse Potential Affects on Child
Depression, Anxiety, and Attributions. Journal of Marriage and Family , Vol. 65, Iss. 4, 809-
817.
Fatori, D., & al., e. (2013). Influence of psychosocial risk factors on the trajectory of mental
health problems from childhood to adolescence: a longitudinal study. BMC Psychiatry , Vol.
13, 31.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201611/the-enduring-pain-childhood-
verbal-abuse