There are many
different ways to raise children and many different parenting strategies and
styles for caregivers to follow. The manner in which a child is cared for and
parented may affect them cognitively as well as socially and emotionally. “A
parenting style is an attitude that is expressed toward the child across a
wide-range of situations, whereas practices or behaviors are expressed toward
the child's behavior in specific situations (Williams et al., 2009). It is
important of a parent or caregiver to know which parenting style they choose to
use when raising their children and what the consequences of this choice may be.
The behaviors of a
parent have less of an affect on a child than the child’s overall parenting
style. “Although specific parenting behaviors, such as spanking or reading
aloud, may influence child development, looking at any specific behavior in
isolation may be misleading …. specific parenting practices are less important
in predicting child well-being than is the broad pattern of parenting”
(Darling, 1999). This is not to say that parenting behaviors may not negatively
or positively affect a child; however the overall impact of these behaviors is
less than the impact of the parenting style. According to Martin and Hite
(2014) “there are four main categories of parent child interactions, based on
their level of demandingness and responsiveness.” Diana Baumrind developed the
system that breaks down parenting into four different styles. These parenting
styles are Authoritarian parenting, Authoritative parenting, Neglectful
parenting, and Indulgent parenting (Santrock, 2016, p. 170).
Authoritarian
parenting can be divided up into two different types. These types include
nonauthoritarian-directive parents who are directive but not intrusive or
autocratic in their use of power over their children, and
authoritarian-directive, who are highly intrusive in their children’s lives (Darling,
1999). Authoritarian parenting could be characterized by high parental control,
verbal hostility, restrictiveness, and discipline strategies (Williams et al.,
2009). Authoritarian parents are highly demanding and directive, but not
responsive to their children. They provide their children with well-ordered
structured environments with rules that are clearly stated and must be followed
(Darling, 1999). According to Santrock, (2016), “Children of authoritarian parents
are often unhappy, fearful, and anxious about comparing themselves with others;
they also fail to initiate activity and have weak communication skills” (p. 170).
Authoritative
parenting is both demanding and responsive in nature (Darling, 1999). They
support their children’s constructive behavior but also expect independent age
appropriate behavior from their children (Santrock, 2016, p. 171). These parents are assertive
with their children but not intrusive or restrictive of their children like
authoritarian-directive parents. “Authoritative parenting might include high
warmth and involvement, clear communication of expectations, reasoning,
democratic participation, and general pleasantness” (Williams et al., 2009). According
to Santrock (2016), “children
whose parents are authoritative are often cheerful, self-controlled and
self-reliant, and achievement-oriented” (p. 171).
Neglectful
parenting, also called uninvolved parenting is low in both responsiveness and
demandingness. This style of parenting might encompass both parents who reject
their children called rejecting-neglecting and regular neglectful parents
(Darling, 1999). This type of parent sees their lives as more important than
their children. The children who grow up in this situation are socially
incompetent, have poor self-control, do not handle independence well, have low
self-esteem, are immature, and often show patterns of truancy and delinquency (Santrock, 2016, p. 171).
Indulgent
parenting is more responsive in nature than it is demanding (Darling, 1999). These
parents provide lax and inconsistent discipline for the child, show ignorance
to their child’s misbehavior, and are often not self-confident in their
parenting (Williams et al., 2009). They often allow self-regulation and avoid
confrontation with their children. There are two different types of indulgent
parent’s nondirective parents and democratic parents who are lenient but are more
conscientious, engaged, and committed to the child (Darling, 1999). According
to Santrock (2016),
children whose parents are indulgent might be domineering, egocentric,
noncompliant, and have unsatisfying peer relationships (p. 171).
Parents can choose
whatever parenting style they want to raise their children but the
authoritative parenting style is the most popular. Sewell and Higgins (2014)
stated that “many recognize the authoritative parenting style as the most
suitable for proper parenting that generally yields plosive results in
behavioral development in children”. In
a study of adolescents that reported being raised with authoritative parent’s
research found higher levels of social development (Williams et al., 2009).
According to Santrock (2016), “they tend to maintain friendly relations
with peers, cooperate with adults, and cope well with stress”(p. 171).
The increased amount of independent age-appropriate behavior expected of these
children leads to them becoming capable. “Children of authoritative parents are
usually capable, self-assured, and popular in their social life” (Martin &
Hite, 2014). In a study parent-reported authoritative parenting was associated
with less disruptive behavior in their 3 to 6 year old children (Williams et
al., 2009).
References
Darling,
N. (1999). Parenting Styles and Its Correlates. ERIC Digest. IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early
Childhood Education Champaign .
Retrieved from http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-4/parenting.htm/
Martin,
L. & Hite, V. (2014). How Do You Affect Your Child. Developmental Physiology at Vanderbilt. Retrieved from https://my.vanderbilt.edu/developmentalpsychologyblog/2014/04/how-do-you-affect-your-child/
Santrock, J.W. (2016). Essentials of Lifespan Development (4th ed.). New York :
McGraw-Hill
Sewell,
A. & Higgins, P. (2014). Recognizing The Importance of Parental Influince
in Social and Behavioral Development. Developmental
Physiology at Vanderbilt. Retrieved from https://my.vanderbilt.edu/developmentalpsychologyblog/2014/04/recognizing-the-importance-of-parental-influence-in-social-and-behavioral-development/
Williams,
L. R., Degnan, K. A., Perez-Edgar, K. E., Henderson, H. A., Rubin, K. H., Pine,
D. S., Steinberg, L., & Fox, N. A. (2009). Impact of Behavioral Inhibition
and Parenting Style on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems from Early
Childhood through Adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37(8),
1063–1075. Received from