Question

Styles of parenting?

This question comes in two parts. Myers & Dewall identify three styles of parenting and discuss their effects on the social development of children. Permissive parents make few demands and tend to submit to the wishes of their children. Authoritarian parents dictate rules and expect blind obedience. Authoritative parents set and enforce rules after discussion with their children.



Part 1:

- How would you characterize the style of parenting under which you were raised?

- Was the same style used by both of your parents or guardians?

- How about your parents' or caretaker's upbringing? -

- How would they (or you) characterize the style of parenting used by their parents (your grandparents)?


Part 2:

- Research one culture other than yours in terms of family structure and/or parenting style.

- Locate at least two credible sources(textbook, journal articles, peer-reviewed articles), put the information in your own words, and summarize what you learned about child-rearing.

- Cite your sources at the end.

Answer 1

Part 1:

- Authoritative parenting style which is the most appropriate among parenting styles , is the one which I experienced from my parents. Authoritative style helps the children to be more competend and independent on their decisions, improving the self confidence and decision making skills. Limited restrictions and supportive nature of parents make children stress free and friendly.

-The same style was not used by both the parents as individuals differ according to the way they learn from their environment. One of parent used to be authoritative while the other authoritarian. But the results were balanced due to the presence of authoritative style.

- One of my parent has been experienced a very comfortable parent-child relationship with their parents which I would call as an authoritative parenting style. While the other one experienced authoritarian parenting style which was not so smooth. But the parenting style I experienced may be a consequence of theirs as the parent who experienced authoritarian relationship showed a authoritative style towards me and vice versa.

-My parents would consider their relationship with their parents in a different manner. One of the parent, explains their parent's parenting style as a beautiful childhood experience while the other describes it as a kind of nightmare because of the strict and authoritarian experience.

Part 2

-The Western culture has a widely accepted authoritative parenting style compared to the Indian context where parents demand obedience even during adulthood. The family settings is also different as the children are allowed to live and work independently after a particular age. While this is not the same in some other countries because cultural contexts greatly influence parenting styles.

-Child rearing is an important process which moulds children into an individual. Experts recommend authoritative parenting styles to develop a physically and mentally healthy individual. Parenting styles has an influence on the personalities of individuals. Hence authoritative parenting style develops friendly, confident children in contrast to authoritarian and permissive parenting styles which develop irritable, selfish or aggressive children. Hence, parent child relationship should always be bidirectional.

-Butcher, J, N., Hooley, J. M & Mineka, S. (2014). Abnormal Psychology (16th Ed). Pearson Education.

-Santrock, J. E (2007) Child Development (2nd Ed) New Delhi: Tata Mcgraw Hill Publishing Company.

-Papalia, D E et. al(2004) Human development (9th Ed) New Delhi: Tata Mcgraw Hill Publishing Company.