These styles encompass parents' behaviors and attitudes and the emotional environment in which they raise their children.
Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents affectchild development.
Some children raised in dramatically different environments can grow up to have remarkably similar personalities.
Verywell / Laura Porter
And some suggest these effects carry over into adult behavior.
Usingnaturalistic observation, parental interviews, andother research methods, she identified important dimensions of parenting.
These dimensions include disciplinary strategies, warmth and nurturing, communication styles, and expectations of maturity and control.
Based on these dimensions, Baumrind suggested that the majority of parents display one of three different parenting styles.
They are often described as domineering and dictatorial.
Their approach is “spare the rod, spoil the child.”
They expect children to obey without question.
Like authoritarian parents, those with anauthoritative parenting styleestablish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow.
However, this parenting style is much more democratic.
Their disciplinary methods are assertive and supportive rather than intrusive, restrictive, or punitive.
For authoritative parents, the goal is to raise children who are socially responsible, cooperative, and self-regulated.
These parents rarely discipline their children because they have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control.
Because they do not expect mature behavior from their children, kids may struggle to set limits for themselves.
On the positive side, this can help kids become more self-sufficient and independent.
On the downside, it can contribute topoor self-regulation.
Effects of Permissive Parenting
Permissive parenting often results in children who rank low in happiness and self-regulation.
These children are more likely toengage in high-risk behaviorsand tend to perform poorly in school.
Anuninvolved parenting styleis characterized by few demands, low responsiveness, and very little communication.
Effects of Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved parenting styles rank lowest across all life domains.
These children tend tolack self-control, have higher rates of delinquency, and poorer self-reliance.
What’s Your Parenting Style?
This can sometimes lead to mixed signals.
To create a cohesive approach to parenting, parents must learn to cooperate and combine their unique parenting styles.
Can You Change Your Parenting Style?
However, such research cannot establish definitive cause-and-effect relationships.
For example, parents with authoritative styles may have children who are defiant or engage in delinquent behavior.
Parents with permissive styles may also ave self-confident and academically successful children.
There isn’t a universal style of parenting that is always best.
Understanding more about your parenting style can help you explore different approaches to parenting your children.
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Jinnah HA, Stoneman Z.Influence of permissive parenting on youth farm risk behaviors.J Agromed.
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Results from a meta-analysis.Cult Div Ethnic Minor Psychol.
Macklem GL.Practitioner’s Guide to Emotion Regulation in School-Aged Children.
