Parenting Styles And Their Impact On Children

Psychologists have been intrigued by how parents impact child development, however, it is difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between their actions and their children’s development. According to research, when children are raised in dramatically different environments, they may later develop identical personalities, while those raised in the same environment may develop very different personalities. Despite these challenges, research has suggested links between parenting styles and the effects they have on children. Some claim that these effects last till maturity.

The first section of the article will discuss four major types of parenting styles given by psychologist Diana Baumrind, and their effects on children. In the latter part of the article, we will also be exploring the type of parenting method that helps raise children effectively and some other related methods.

Diana Baumrind found three types of parenting styles in research done in the 1960s. Later, another study by Maccoby and Martin revealed still another sort of parenting style, for a total of four. Each of the approaches has a unique impact on children.

1. Authoritarian parenting:

Children raised by authoritarian parents are expected to obey tight rules and to stay inside bounds. Failures are met with repercussions. Another thing to keep in mind is that no rationale is provided for the regulations. Once a rule is established, the child is unable to challenge it and must just obey it. These parents are less attentive to their children and want them to achieve in all aspects of life. Children are never informed where they went wrong; instead, they are disciplined and supposed to figure out where they went wrong. Such parents are sometimes characterized as dictatorial and dominating.

2. Authoritative Parenting:

The main difference between the previous and this approach is that authoritative parenting is more democratic and inclusive. Not only do such parents listen to their children’s issues, but they also listen to them. They have high expectations for their children, yet they make sure to offer warmth and make their children comfortable. In contrast to authoritarian parents, they are reported to be more caring and forgiving when their children make errors. They may be assertive, but they are not restricting. They raise their children by being there for them and offering adequate assistance. Children reared in this manner are self-sufficient and have a strong sense of self.

3. Permissive Parenting:

Permissive parents have minimal expectations. They do not impose any limitations on the children. They are not as demanding as the previous two, but they are more responsive. They have a close relationship with their children, are talkative, and are sometimes seen as a friend rather than a parent.

4. Uninvolved Parenting:

As defined by Maccoby and Martin, this is a parenting style that involves parental behaviors such as neglect, poor attentiveness, and fewer expectations. Although the parents provide for the child’s necessities, they are frequently absent from the child’s life. They provide little or no assistance or direction. Extreme cases of such parenting style involve parents who do not even fulfill the basic needs of the child. 

While authoritarian parents raise obedient children, they have lower self-esteem and are generally unhappy in life. Authoritative parents, on the other hand, rear children who are high on the happiness quotient, and even successful. Children of permissive parents are usually unhappy and underperform in school. Uninvolved parenting is the most problematic of all. Children have low self-esteem, poor self-control, and are less competent.

The most successful parenting style is authoritative parenting. Because parents are reasonable and fair in situations, children grow more receptive to their parents. Children learn their lessons and realize where they may have gone wrong because their parents guide and encourage them. Children also attempt to comprehend and follow rules.

Remember, one must always make an effort to maintain a healthy parent-child connection, since in the end, what counts most is how happy the child is!