The Santa Claus Syndrome

Book excerpt: The Santa Claus Syndrome By: Michael M. Faniel Sr. Santa Claus: also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved (“good” or “nice”) children on Christmas Eve (December 24) and the early morning hours of Christmas Day (December 25). The Santa Claus Syndrome explores the impact on children of being lied to about the non-existence of Santa Claus. Through a discussion of the psychological impact, Michael M. Faniel Sr. asserts that there is no reason to lie to young children. With impressionable young minds, lies can negatively affect the human psychic physical development. Faniel suggests these lies contribute to the growing number of people with depression, anxiety, and countless other mental and emotional disorders. Faniel’s motivation for this book is his personal experience with sociocultural accepted practices. The book explores the traumatic effects of lies on a person’s world views. While all experiences can affect human behavior patterns, it is the traumatic ones that create trust issues, antisocial patterns, and a reliance on these learned patterns as lifelong practices. The Santa Claus Syndrome is a theoretical examination of these experiences and subsequent possible problems associated with mental and emotional degenerate conditions.