The notion that human beings are born with an evil nature pervades Western civilization's attitude towards children. The idea is that children are born with unacceptable impulses and tendencies that would not disappear unless the children were taught to control themselves, thereby denying their own inner nature. The proponents of this theory consider it the parents' job to civilize and tame the barbarian nature of children. This theory assumes that children would naturally hit and bite other people, would never want to use a toilet, learn to share, cooperate, or help another person, and would lie, steal, and destroy property unless they were disciplined and taught moral values and society's rules.
Guilt is considered to be the great motivating force behind socially acceptable behavior.
The children then learn to give up their nasty, uncivilized ways because they love their parents, want to please them, and want to be loved by them. This belief has done more harm than any other belief invented by humanity. It is one of the main reasons the world is in such a mess. It has caused entire populations to be blindly obedient to authority figures and unable to think clearly about how to act. It has produced generations of adults who are burdened with feelings of guilt, fear, and shame.