There are four classic styles of parent behavior: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and unengaged. Parenting style impacts the effectiveness of children's discipline, regardless of what punishment is meted out. The type of parenting style adopted is determined by the parent's view of the nature of children and their viewpoint of what is necessary for their psychological growth.
Authoritarian Parenting
Authoritarian parents apply strict, rigid discipline to children. A study published in 2006 in the "Journal of Experimental Social Psychology" found that authoritarian parents were distinguished from other parenting styles in that these parents were more punitive and arbitrary and used unilateral discipline with threats and criticism. The lack of nurturing and caring characteristic of this style of parenting was associated by these researchers with poor self-esteem.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents are more collaborative when compared to authoritarian style. This style has been associated with direct expressions of caring, positive emotion and clearly defined goals. A study published in 2006 in the "Journal of Experimental Social Psychology" found that expressions of parental nurturing and caring characteristic of this style of parenting was associated with high self-esteem. In a study published in January 2009 in the "Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences" and the "Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences," adults who remembered their parents as using an authoritative parenting style reported less depressive symptoms and greater well-being than in adults who remembered their parents as having any of the other three parenting styles.
Permissive Parenting
Parents who are permissive inconsistently enforce parental rules. While this style of parenting is characterized by parents who display more affection than do authoritative parents, there is less consistent adherence to rules than in both the authoritative and authoritarian styles. According to the website Consistent Parenting Advice, demanding and selfish children tend to be raised in permissive parenting environments.
Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved parents are neglectful of their child's basic needs. Discipline is nonexistent, and clothing, food and shelter are inadequate or inconsistent. Children are allowed to act as they please without parental intervention, even if safety is at risk. In a study published in January 2009 in the "Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences" and the "Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences," adults who remembered their parents as univolved reported having greater problems with substance abuse than adults who remembered their parents as using other parenting styles.
References
- Wabash University; Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior; D. Baumrind
- "Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences"; Remembered Parenting Styles and Adjustment in Middle and Late Adulthood; T. Rothrauff, et al.; January 2009
- "Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; What lies beneath: Parenting Style and Implicit Self-Esteem; T. DeHart, et al.; 2006
- Consistent Parenting Advice: Permissive Parenting Style
