ABSTRACT
Many social scientists emphasize that the age of the grandchild plays an important role when it comes to the importance of the grandparentgrandchild relationship. As young people enter puberty they tend to not be as interested in their grandparents as they once were (Höpflinger et al., 2006; Kahana & Kahana, 1970). From a developmental point of view, the same is assumed. There are too few investigations, so the subject will only be touched upon here. The Jungian Joanne Wieland-Burston from Munich suspects that early grandchild-grandparent relationships consist of idealizations: young grandchildren idealize grandparents because they know everything; grandparents idealize their grandchildren because they embody life and vibrancy. They also happily accept the grandchild’s idealization in a situation in which they no longer feel as strong and agile (Wieland-Burston, 2010). The grandson, as the songwriter Tinu Heiniger describes in the above song, commands the patient grandfather to do what he wants. As grandparents often no longer work and do not have to raise children, their approach with the grandchild is different; they fulfil the grandchild’s ‘instructions’ and thus strengthen their self-efficacy (Knox, 2012). This occurs even if the grandson has to explain to the grandmother how the phone or the computer works. The relationship is more relaxed, possibly pampering; both tend to reinforce each other. This can strengthen the mutual ‘grandiose’ and intimate relationship (see also the ‘Heidi’ story). Grandparents introduce the children to the family history, to their ethical and religious values, attitudes, rituals or festivals; they may tell stories of the past and look at photo albums together. This gives a grandchild a vertical dimension of identity, as the psychoanalyst Peter Schwob explains (Schwob, 1988, 1990). It is insightful that the self-esteem and self-efficacy feeling of a human being has to do with its own history, with his parents, grandparents and generally with his ancestors. The sense of identity (like the family feeling) of a human being increases when he feels part of a tribe.
