Slovak Psychologist Warns of Long-Term Effects of Childhood Emotional Neglect

Slovak psychologist Martin Miler has highlighted the lasting psychological impact of a phenomenon known as 'parentification' — a dynamic in which children take on emotional or practical adult responsibilities within their families, often because parents are unable to meet the child's emotional needs. According to Miler, children raised in such environments, sometimes described as 'glass children' whose fragility or needs go unseen, frequently grow into adults who struggle to recognize or assert their own needs. The pattern, Miler explains, shapes both self-image and personal relationships well into adulthood, as individuals who were conditioned to prioritize others' emotions over their own continue to do so. Awareness of these dynamics is growing in Slovak psychological and public discourse as mental health professionals increasingly encourage people to examine the emotional patterns established in childhood.