Within the past couple days, I have gained a deeper understanding of three different parenting styles. In the process of explaining these styles, I hope that you are able to draw your own conclusions on which one is best.
1. AUTHORITARIAN
This parenting style can be very manipulative and controlling. These are the parents that expect exact obedience and leave no room for compromise. They act as the dictators and their children cannot question them. It is “because I said so.” It is “I am doing what is best for you.” I like to think as these parents as the dog trainer, and their children as the dogs. Except….children do not always love to obey. Extremes on this parenting style is abuse—both psychological and physical.
The effect of this parenting style is rebellion and discouragement. They tend to believe that there parents love is contingent on their obedience. They generally have a lower self esteem.
2. AUTHORITIVE
This parenting style is the median of the two. This is the parent that expects obedience, but is also responsive to their child’s concerns. They expect to be respected, but offer respect in return. There is often compromise. The parents do offer discipline, but this discipline is guided toward a long term result, not an ‘instant’ change of behavior. Instead, they look under the behavior and into the center of the child to find where their behavior is coming from. They look beyond the surface by communicating with their child to see what the problem actually is. Was their child bullied? Did they just lose a good friend? Etc.
The effects of this parenting style are respect, self-confidence, learning responsibility…etc…
3. INDULGENT
This is the parent that wants to be seen as ‘cool’. They want to be friends with their children and seek their child’s approval. These parents can commonly come from authoritarian parents. They let their children make all the decisions and do not lay out any consequences. Extremes of this parenting style would include neglect—leaving their children alone.
The effects of this parenting style are irresponsibility, low self-esteem, the child manipulating the parent, etc…
1. AUTHORITARIAN
This parenting style can be very manipulative and controlling. These are the parents that expect exact obedience and leave no room for compromise. They act as the dictators and their children cannot question them. It is “because I said so.” It is “I am doing what is best for you.” I like to think as these parents as the dog trainer, and their children as the dogs. Except….children do not always love to obey. Extremes on this parenting style is abuse—both psychological and physical.
The effect of this parenting style is rebellion and discouragement. They tend to believe that there parents love is contingent on their obedience. They generally have a lower self esteem.
2. AUTHORITIVE
This parenting style is the median of the two. This is the parent that expects obedience, but is also responsive to their child’s concerns. They expect to be respected, but offer respect in return. There is often compromise. The parents do offer discipline, but this discipline is guided toward a long term result, not an ‘instant’ change of behavior. Instead, they look under the behavior and into the center of the child to find where their behavior is coming from. They look beyond the surface by communicating with their child to see what the problem actually is. Was their child bullied? Did they just lose a good friend? Etc.
The effects of this parenting style are respect, self-confidence, learning responsibility…etc…
3. INDULGENT
This is the parent that wants to be seen as ‘cool’. They want to be friends with their children and seek their child’s approval. These parents can commonly come from authoritarian parents. They let their children make all the decisions and do not lay out any consequences. Extremes of this parenting style would include neglect—leaving their children alone.
The effects of this parenting style are irresponsibility, low self-esteem, the child manipulating the parent, etc…