Mind the GROUP!

Incidentally, notice how ingrained in the Italian culture it is to compare yourself to the group and try to conform.

EXHIBIT A. We see it at home with our Italian partners' parenting style

"Do you see anyone else in the restaurant flinging food across the table? Exactly. And neither should you!"

EXHIBIT B. We see it when kids don't do well on tests at school.

Here is the process, it may come in handy if you are rearing Italian children.

1. Kid brings home lousy grade on math test.
2. You blow up at kid.
3. Kid assures you that EVERYONE in the class got a bad grade, except that kid that NEVER gets bad grades because she has no friends and the teacher feels sorry for her, so it's not so bad.
4.You check in to the WHAT'S APP PARENT GROUP (which includes ALL of the parents of the children in your kid's class) and VERIFY that everyone else's child did as bad as yours so that you can collectively blame the teacher.

EXHIBIT C. In the classroom.

Any kind of test you give your students will end up a GROUP PROJECT unless you are especially vigilant. Be careful of serial copiers, small group discussions, and cell phone photographers.

Better yet, just assign GROUP PROJECTS and be done with it.

EXHBIT D. We see it in the tax system with the Studi di Settore, which identify tax evaders by comparing your tax declaration to others in your sector.

It's all about the group! Remember that, people.