Parenting style
The psychologist Diana Baumrind suggested 4 aspects of family functioning that can affect a child’s emotional development. The first of these is a warm, affectionate environment which leads to children behaving in a more empathetic way and is associated with higher academic performance. The second is clarity and consistency of rules which leads to less aggressive and less rebellious behaviour. The third is a high level of supportive expectation which is linked to higher self-esteem in children and the fourth is open and regular communication which is associated with emotional and social maturity in children.
She also suggests 4 styles of parenting that are linked with a child’s emotional development and behaviour. These are permissive, authoritarian, authoritative and uninvolved. Parents with an authoritative style combine warmth with sensitivity to a child’s individual needs. There is a high level of communication. Children are able to test boundaries, but the parent remains in control and expectations are consistent with the child’s overall level of maturity. Parents who have an uninvolved style combine low involvement with little control and are apparently indifferent. This style is potentially neglectful. Permissive parents do not, or are unwilling to, place a high level of control on the child. Whilst communication may be lacking, there is a high degree of warmth. There are low expectations of the child. The authoritarian parent exerts control and expects obedience from the child, from whom a high level of maturity is expected. However, the overall level of communication between parent and child is low.Be aware
Parenting styles are affected by many things, including the parent’s own childhood experiences of being parented and their current socio-economic circumstances. Different cultures may put an emphasis on certain parenting styles. Also, parenting styles are not fixed and may change as the child ages.
Can you match the style of parenting with the consequences of that style using this drag and drop activity?
Permissive - allows child to lead.
- Performs less well in school, more aggressive, less independent, immature in peer behaviour.
Authoritarian - asserts control.
- Performs less well in school, lower self-esteem, may be subdued or show aggression.
Authoritative - setting boundaries.
- Higher self-esteem, greater independence, more compliant with parents, altruistic, high performance in school.
Uninvolved - no care.
- Emotional and social immaturity, poor school performance, poor social relationships, anti-social behaviour.
- Higher self-esteem, greater independence, more compliant with parents, altruistic, high performance in school.
- Emotional and social immaturity, poor school performance, poor social relationships, anti-social behaviour.
- Performs less well in school, lower self-esteem, may be subdued or show aggression.
- Performs less well in school, more aggressive, less independent, immature in peer behaviour.