Browsing the ol' psychological textbooks and have run across the following: "Harsh, inconsistent, and negligent parenting can increase chances that a child will develop antisocial behaviors."

Some days I witness parent-child interactions that just make me want to take said parent, shake them violently, and yell, "don't you see what you just did there?" I realize I have no right to do that, especially as I don't have any children. An example from the other day:

Woman with grocery cart starts unloading things onto belt. Calm, reasonable child with her is being quiet.
Mother: "Do you want some candy? You can get some if you want."
Child looks at candy, quietly, picks up something.
Child: "I want to get this for Daddy."
Mother: "Daddy wouldn't want that. Daddy doesn't like candy. You can get it for yourself. Get something for you."
Child: "I'll get it for Daddy."
Mother: "Daddy doesn't want it. Get it for you."
Child wanders over toward in-store concession/snack area and wants to ride something or other. Mother refuses, after all that "whatever you want" stuff earlier. Argument ensues. When I left, the child was shrieking and crying.

I bet the poor woman felt martyred and completely bewildered as to why she has such a terrible child when she's so "nice" all the time. Sheesh.