Читать книгу Money Mammoth - Ted Klontz - Страница 29

As you think about your parents, their relationship with money, and what you learned, what feelings emerge? Our relationship with our parents is complicated, made up of a mixed bag of feelings and experiences over the years. Due to the nature of our species, we rely on the care, feeding, and protection of our parents longer than any other animal. As a result, we are more influenced by our parents than any other species. This is also where we get most of our socialization—how we make sense of relationships, our sense of self, and the various roles we play. For better or worse, you entered the world as the socialized and behavioral result of what you saw your parents say and do when you were very young. Typically, by the age of 7, your personality, behaviors, and social beliefs are fairly well cast.

When it comes to our beliefs and behaviors about money, research has supported a similar pattern of learning. What we see, hear, and overhear about money and relationships can influence us for our entire lives. These early childhood experiences create our money beliefs, which are hardwired into our subconscious. Our money beliefs drive our financial behaviors, and in many ways, determine our level of success. The subconscious representation of your financial beliefs, which greatly influences your money behaviors, decisions, and relationships, is known as Money Scripts^®. They are what informs our day-to-day interactions, decisions, discussions, relationships, filters, and behaviors regarding all things financial.

Since Money Scripts^® are so integral to our financial outcomes, it makes sense to know as much as we can about them. We dedicate Chapter 9 to understanding and assessing your Money Scripts^®. For now, we are going to explore what roles your parents played in shaping your money beliefs.

Essentially, it could be fair to blame your financial problems, and possibly your relationship problems, on your parents. Most likely your financial beliefs and behaviors have sprung directly from your experiences in your childhood. Of course, you are ultimately responsible for your behaviors, but the fact is, your financial behaviors are rooted in your Money Scripts^®. Research on Money Scripts^® and their influence on financial outcomes is one of the fastest-growing areas of research in financial psychology. Financial professionals realize that understanding financial behavior is the future of helping clients with their financial needs.