Indigo children
Template:Infobox Paranormalterms The indigo children are children who are believed to represent a higher state of human evolution. The term itself was generated by a woman (Nancy Tappe), a synesthete who saw the indigo color as part of her synethesia. Beliefs concerning the exact nature of indigo children vary, with some believing that they have paranormal abilities such as the ability to read minds, however this is not what the authors of the original books have indicated. The original information indicates more conventional traits such as increased empathy and creativity, as well as conceptual thinking as apposed to linear thinking.
There is no scientific support for these claims.
The term indigo children originates from the 1982 book Understanding Your Life Through Color, by Nancy Ann Tappe, a synesthete who claimed to possess the ability to perceive human energy through color. She wrote that during the mid 1960s she began noticing that many children were being born with indigo colors surrounding them. Today she estimates that 60% of people age 14 to 25 and 97% of children under ten are "indigo."
The idea of indigo children was later popularized by the 1998 book The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived, written by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober. Tober has said that she and Carroll do not talk much about his channelling abilities in interviews because they see this as being a potential barrier to reaching more mainstream audiences that exist outside of the New Age movement.
Further reading
Redman, Deb (2001). "Investing in Adult Understanding of Special Children." Chicago: Project Legacy. Lancaster, Dianne (2002). Anger and the Indigo Child. Boulder: Wellness Press. Carroll, Lee and Tober, Jan (1999). "The Indigo Children." California: Hay House, INC. / (2000) "An Indigo Celebration." California: Hay House, INC. / (2009) "The Indigo Children Ten Years Later." California: Hay House, INC.
Characteristics
Descriptions of indigo children include the belief that they are empathetic, curious, strong-willed, independent, and often perceived by friends or family as being weird; possess a clear sense of self-definition and purpose; and also exhibit a strong inclination towards spiritual matters from early childhood. Indigo children have also been described as having a strong feeling of entitlement, or "deserving to be here." Other alleged traits include a high intelligence quotient, an inherent intuitive ability, and resistance to authority.[1][2] According to Tober and Carroll, indigo children function poorly in conventional schools due to their rejection of authority, being smarter than their teachers and a lack of response to guilt-, fear- or manipulation-based discipline.[3]
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Many Indigo children are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as more and more Indigo's are born into this world the number of (ADHD) children will likely increase. [4] and Tober and Carroll's book The Indigo Children linked the concept with diagnosis of ADHD. Their book makes the case that the children are a new stage of evolution rather than children with a medical diagnosis, and that they require special treatment rather than medications.
Criticism
According to research psychologist Russell Barkley, the New Age movement has yet to produce empirical evidence of the existence of indigo children and the 17 traits most commonly attributed to them were akin to the Forer effect; i.e. so vague they could describe nearly anyone. Many critics see the concept of indigo children as made up of extremely general traits, a sham diagnosis that is an alternative to a medical diagnosis, with a complete lack of science or studies to support it.[1][4]
Mental health experts are concerned that labeling a disruptive child an "Indigo" may delay proper diagnosis and treatment that may help the child.[1][3] Others have stated that many of the traits of indigo children could be more prosaically interpreted as simple arrogance and selfish individualism, and view the concept as hypocritical since many parents with certain New Age beliefs do not view these traits to be progressive.[4]
Commercialization
According to Lorie Anderson's article at Skepticreport.com, belief in indigo children has significant commercial value due to sales of book, video, and one-on-one counseling session for children, as well as in donations and speaking engagements.[5] There are now a wide variety of books, films, summer camps and conferences that are aimed at parents who believe their children are indigos. The two films produced on the subject were both by James Twyman, who sells a variety of indigo-themed courses, clothing, books, CDs and movies.[3]
In popular culture
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- The film Indigo is about the relationship between a man and his indigo grandchild[6]
- The video game Fahrenheit (also known as "Indigo Prophecy" in some regions) features an indigo child as a prominent story element
- CSI: Las Vegas episode "The Unusual Suspect" has a 12-year old as a suspect, whose parents describe her as an indigo child.
- Maynard James Keenan released a song titled "Indigo Children" in his solo album "V" is for Vagina
References
- ^ a b c Leland, J (2006-01-12). "Are They Here to Save the World?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ Tober J & Carroll LA (1999). The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived. Light Technology Publishing. ISBN 1-56170-608-6.
- ^ a b c Hyde, J (2006-03-09). "Little Boy Blue". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ a b c Jayson, S (2005-05-31). "Indigo kids: Does the science fly?". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ Anderson, L (2003-12-01). "Indigo: the color of money". Skepticreport.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ "Plot summary for Indigo". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-10-23.