Different Parenting Styles – Their Effects on Children
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Parenting styles are usually talked about in terms of authoritarian parenting, authoritative parenting, and permissive parenting. What effects does each one have on the children receiving the parenting? How different will a child be when exposed to different parenting styles? And which is the correct and best parenting style to use?
Studies (for example by Goodman and Gurian, 1999) have indicated that children who have experienced authoritarian parenting with strict parents often aren’t able to think for themselves or understand why certain behaviours are required. This would make sense as they are brought up to do things without questioning them. This is almost the direct opposite of permissive parenting methods. Children with authoritarian parents are often withdrawn or anxious and with low self esteem levels. Boys can also show anger and defiance as they get older. Authoritative parenting leads to these characteristics much less often.
Permissive parenting, often known as ‘indulgent’ parenting, has been shown to lead to immature, impulsive behaviour, with an inclination towards disobedience and rebellion. Boys of permissive parents are often likely to be low achievers, certainly less so than children exposed to an authoritative parenting style, and also less so than children of the authoritarian parenting method. Boys are often less self motivated than girls in terms of education, which adds weight to the link between indulgent parenting and low achievement.
Studies of authoritative parenting have shown that children exposed to this ‘democratic’ parenting style are the best adjusted. Whilst authoritarian parenting can often lead to differences in behaviour between boys and girls, children of authoritative parents show fewer differences in behaviour between the genders. They tend to achieve higher grades in school, be more helpful around the home, and have less social problems. Whilst the differences between strict parenting and authoritative parenting are evident, there are also differences between the children exposed to permissive parenting and the children in this group.
Whatever your parent style, everything you do will in some way affect your child. Whilst it is very unlikely that any parents will fall neatly into any of the categories, it is clear from studies and reports that the authoritative parenting style is the most successful. Authoritarian parenting is often considered to be harsh and bullying and permissive parenting doesn’t give children the frames and boundaries they need. If you love your children and think about how your actions shape their future then you are likely to be doing OK.
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Source by Kinjal S Shah
