สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume II - 2010 Sobha Spielmann rampant consumerism, drug and a host of other social problems and these vices must be overcome. Thus a host of such contradictory viewpoints, tendencies and messages now symbolize the real-life division in Thai politics and society. Past Thai Family Thais traditionally lived in small sedentary agrarian communities, where peaceful coexistence without major disagreements have long been the norm. In this largely static society organized around extended families with its younger members (or those lower in the village hierarchy) performing their assigned chores and without question or without questioning their elders. They were socialized early in infancy towards deference to their elders and learning to wai properly. When in school their teachers and textbooks transmitted similar values and perspectives and pointed them towards comparable attitudes. They were constantly admonished for not showing respect or expressing gratitude, for losing patience or sight of the fact that in society there were powers greater than them and their own humble and limited position. Trained to excess in forever withholding their own opinion and forgetting their pride, probably has caused frustration and anxiety to individuals, on the other hand prevented violence, friction or open conflict within communities. Socialization and school curricula follow(ed) conservative norms and values as well as employing traditional forms in its transmission. What is taught is to give in to those older/senior and not to question their teachings, ideas, orders or to adopt a critical attitude or express skepticism of any kind. The schools reiterate and confirm such views and, by so doing, reinforce the traditional hierarchy of things and people. Hence, neither family nor school are preparing children and students for work in a modern workplace nor, for that matter, for life in a modern society where people are expected to freely express their views and discuss their diverging opinions with others in an open and pragmatic manner, without being either overly deferential or aggressive. Individual and Society Thai socialization, it can be concluded, does not successfully prepare people for an open exchange of opinions, nor in the field of human interaction nor does it teach how to deal with expressing or responding to grievances, objections or dissent. Discussion and argumentation are suppressed in favor of agreement and conformity.