In the world of parenting, there are different ways in which parents’ discipline and raise their children. These styles vary due to the mode of punishment, communication, nurturing and expectations. In some cases, how parents raise their kids also carries some similarities across other parents. As a result, these styles of parenting have therefore been classified based on what similarities they share. They include authoritative style of parenting, permissive, authoritarian and uninvolved styles of parenting. This essay will therefore take a keen look at these different parenting styles and how each of these parenting styles and disciplinary strategies can affect children.
Authoritarian Parenting Style
With an authoritarian parenting style, the parent is usually very strict with the child, has high expectations of them and in most occasions punishes them. The parent barely gives room for a two-way form of communication and the most communication comes from the parent, where the kid is required to listen and obey all rules that have been put in place. Due to its strict nature, the parent in this case barely provides the child with any form of nurturing. This style of parenting has direct effects on a child’s behavior. This type of parenting style can directly affect the children in negative ways during their childhood. It has been proven that kids with authoritarian parents score lower in academic self-concept tests. It has been discovered that physical discipline and externalized aggression has resulted to attention issues and destructive behaviors. It has been proven that this type of parenting style affects the child`s self-esteem in a negative way. This style of parenting results in kids who are very obedient and know how to follow the rules without asking any questions. However, such behavior also results in extreme unhappiness and inability to create and sustain social relationships and interactions due to low self-esteem issues. Because these kids are used to being told what to do, they lack skills in problem solving. Moreover, they lack any interest in negotiations even when faced with a problem; all they want to do is follow rules. Due to the strict nature of their parents, these kids grow with anger issues which are usually directed to their parents. They become hostile and aggressive in everything they do when encountered with difficult situations since they are not taught how to do things better in the future. This brings up adults who are very frustrated in life. Moreover, the fact that these kids are raised in fear, forced to obey rules with no complains, they tend to become very good liars who are able to lie their way out of any situation (Blackwell).
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Permissive Parenting Style
A parent who uses a permissive parenting style usually is not strict. It entails an open system of communication where the parent is not always giving rules and directives. This style is the opposite of the authoritarian style as it does not set any rules but allows the child to figure out what it is, they have done wrong and then lets them decide their form of punishment. It therefore creates a friendship between both parties where expectations are very low and the parent is more nurturing. Such upbringing has a great influence on the life of a child. Children who were raised in a permissive parenting style had a lower quality of life. Children raised in a permissive parenting style have a major negative impact on their mental health. It has a big impact on the child’s academic achievements. One of the characteristics of a child reared by this type of parenting is the lack of interest and persistency. When parents use this style, they become more of a friend than a parent by encouraging their children to talk more. As a result, they don’t put much effort to discourage their child from bad behavior and bad choices. This brings up a child who is poorly behaved both at home and in school. Such behavior also results in poor academic performance. Due to the non-strict nature of this style, kids barely learn the importance of following rules and regulations. They are unaware that certain actions have consequences since in most cases the parent forgives the child’s misconduct and is lenient to them. This therefore brings up kids who feel very privileged in life and think they deserve everything in life. Moreover, these kids grow up being very happy and can also develop self-esteem issues. The child also becomes disobedient in environments where certain rules are set since they don’t know how to follow rules. In addition to bad behavior, this parenting style which involves a lot pampering can result in child obesity where their parent is always purchasing junk food for them (Baumrind).
Authoritative Parenting Style
An authoritative parenting style involves a lot of nurturing and high expectations. Parents set certain clear rules for the kids, explain to them why the rules have been set and informs of them of the consequences of defying such rules. In this case, the communication between parties is two way and the kids are even allowed to contribute. The communication is designed to enable the child to understand everything that goes on. Children reared by an authoritative parenting style have much more self-esteem. This type of parenting helps children to achieve their goals throughout their life time. Children reared by this parenting style tend to adapt better to social hardships and they often make better judgments. Such children know the value of rules; they become obedient and know that actions have consequences. The kids display good behavior both at home and in school. This behavior is also reflected well in their academic performance which is usually high. An open system of communication teaches the kids to have opinions on issues, to express their opinions at the same following rules. When kids are allowed to have a contribution and express their opinion, the self-esteem goes up, they become confident in themselves and believe in them more. Being self-confident results in very happy and successful kids who in most cases make good decisions, are able to evaluate their situations and solve problems accordingly without getting aggressive or frustrated (Hoshiar).
Uninvolved Parenting Style
In an uninvolved parenting style, just like its name, parents do not play an active role in their child’s life maybe due to a lack of interest in parenting or they just chose to parent this way. This style involves very minimal communication between parties, little or no nurturing at all and little or no expectations on the child at all. The parent mostly allows the child to do whatever they want and does not get into their way and children therefore lack any guidance and are usually neglected. The lack of guidance and neglecting kids can create mental and emotional issues in kids who display abandonment issues and feel they are not loved. Lack of adequate love and guidance has a direct impact on the child’ self-esteem and confidence. These kids grow without knowing how to follow rules, they don’t get to know the consequences of their actions and mostly feel privileged in life since they are allowed to do whatever they want. Lack of parental attention affects their academic performance. Moreover, these kids are characterized with by very bad behavior since they lack someone to correct them. They lack self-discipline, they don’t know how to solve problems, are used to doing things their way which makes it difficult for them to cope with others and maintain social relationships (Hoshiar).
Conclusion
In summary, all these types of parenting styles have been shown to have a strong impact on children and how they socialize or start new relationships with society. Every aspect of an authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting style has a major impact on a child. All of these types of parenting are different, and we understand that some influences are positive and some are not. Thus, it provides us with an explanation of how people develop certain behaviors throughout their lives.
Works Cited
- Baumrind, Diana. “The Influence of Parenting Style on Adolescent Competence and Substance Use. Journal of Early Adolescence”, Journal of Early Adolescence., vol. 11, 1991, pp. 56–95., https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f1cf/b19c25271233726248a662b8766cd8341404.pdf
- Blackwell, Wiley. “From Authoritative Parenting Practices to an Authoritarian Context: Exploring the Person–Environment Fit”. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE, vol. 13, no. 4, 1 Dec. 2003, pp. 427–456., https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.db29.linccweb.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=650358c9-1a33-4d10-9fef-20dec60cad3e@pdc-v-sessmgr04
- Hoshiar, Sangawi. “The Impact of Parenting Styles on Children Developmental Outcome: The Role of Academic Self‐Concept as a Mediator”. International Journal of Psychology, vol. 53, no. 5, Oct. 2018, pp. 379–387. Business Source Complete, http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.db29.linccweb.org/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=13f1575d-e09f-4734-a436-729c5d08a253@sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#AN=131662542&db=bth