How Four Types of Parenting Styles Influence Child Development - Literature review Example

Running Head : PARENTING STYLES How the Four Types of Parenting Styles Influence Child Development [Name] [University] [Professor] [Course] Parenting Styles I. In the construct of the society, it is evident that parents play the most important role in the development of their children’s competencies. II. Parenting Styles captures the usual variations in any parent's method in controlling and socially exposing their children. A. Parenting Style represents the standard techniques utilized by parents to bring up and influence their children. B. Four universal parenting styles constitute to the different levels of demand and responsiveness that will greatly influence child outcome namely the Indulgent type, Authoritarian, Authoritative and the Uninvolved Parenting a. Indulgent Parenting describes a more responsive than demanding style of child upbringing. b. Authoritarian parenting generates a high level of demandingness but generally low responsiveness towards children. c. Authoritative parenting manifests consistency between responsiveness and demandingness. d. Uninvolved parenting involves parents who are neglectful of their parental responsiveness and demandingness towards their children. III. Styles used by each parents in order to bring up their own children may definitely vary but whatever parenting style it is that they put into practice, it certainly will serve as the key to raising responsible children. Parenting Styles In the construct of the society, it is evident that parents play the most important role in the development of their children’s competencies. Parenting, to define, is the complex process of raising and educating a child from the time of birth until their adulthood. It is a complex activity which necessarily involves specific behaviors that altogether work to influence the outcome of a child's development. One of the approaches related to this concern is the study on ``Parenting Style''. According to Diana Baumrind (1991), the construct of parenting styles captures the usual variations in any parent's method in controlling and socially exposing their children. In further understanding so, it should be kept in mind that parenting styles directs a certain variation in parenting. Despite the distinction among the styles of parenting of each parent, it is still the primary obligation of all parents to influence their children in any extent that will attempt to bring out the best in the child's development. Two important elements of parenting are captured under parenting styles. According to Maccoby and Martin (1998), one of the most significant elements taken into consideration in parenting is the “Parental Responsiveness'' or the parental warmth/support that each parent extend to their children. Parental responsiveness indicates the influences parents contribute to foster their child’s individuality, self-assertion and self-regulation by constantly attending to their children's needs. Support towards child necessities tunes up parental responsiveness. Parental demandingness, otherwise known as behavioral control, refers to the fundamental claims of parents towards their children (Baumrind, 1991). Additionally, behavioral control demands the supervision, disciplinary efforts and the constructive confrontation to disobedience of parents for the child's development (Maccoby & Martin, 1998). The extent to which such demandingness applies generally indicates the type of parenting style used by parents. Furthermore, the variations in balance between both responsiveness and demandingness of parents can be seen through the parenting style being practiced. Parenting style represents the standard techniques utilized by parents to bring up and influence their children. It is a psychological construct applied early in child development. Four universal parenting styles constitute to the different levels of demand and responsiveness that will greatly influence child outcome namely the Indulgent type, Authoritarian, Authoritative and the Uninvolved Parenting (Baumrind, 1991). Authoritarian and authoritative parenting both expect highly of the children and control is much exercised over them. Indulgent and uninvolved parenting, on the other hand, concern less demand from the child, thus, results into immaturity and irresponsibility. Each of the respective parenting styles has pros and cons that clearly reflect the differences among prevailing patterns of parental values, behaviors and accepted practices that individually characterize a child (Gurian, 1999). The effect of employing a specific parenting style towards children reveals certain impressions on the development of the child. On one research conducted by Dr. Kyung E. Rhee and his colleagues, relationship between child-rearing style and the child's weight status two years hence was assessed. Eight hundred seventy two children aged 4 1/2 were collected by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for the research. On the record, 11% of which children were overweight while 13.4% were in line. Children raised from an authoritarian household were found to be all but five times more prone to overweight as those raised from an authoritarian family. Furthermore, children brought up by indulgent and/or uninvolved parenting were exposed to more than thrice the risk. Researchers have then concluded that an excessively authoritarian upbringing produces a negative impact on the children's weight due to the child's failure to learn to eat on the basis of hunger. In such household unit, parents may regard food as a prize or a reward for the children (Gurian,1999). Discussion Indulgent Parenting Going through the four previously mentioned styles of parenting, indulgent parenting otherwise referred to as ``permissive'' or ``nondirective'' parenting, describes a more responsive than demanding style of child upbringing. Parents of this type are characteristically lenient, nurturing and accepting, and principally nontraditional (Baumrind, 1991). Furthermore, they exert minimal control over their children, setting no limits and avoiding confrontation. Mature behavior and considerable self-regulation in addition is not expected from the children themselves. To add in this parenting method, children are authorized to set their own rules and activities (Steinberg, 2005). Children raised from indulgent homes are given high parental responsiveness however low demandingness. As such, the child or the children are potentially more vulnerable to behavioral problems and low scholastic performance. And if in any rare circumstance that may lead to punishment, resulting children become immature. Children are then faced to reject responsibilities from their wrongdoings, aside from an invariable control over their impulses. Such parenting technique contributes to a higher self-esteem, better social aptitude and lower conduct of depression (Goodman & Gurian, 1999). Authoritarian Parenting On the other hand, another style of parenting being practiced by some parents include the authoritarian approach. This authoritarian parenting generates a high level of demandingness but generally low responsiveness towards children. Baumrind (1991) described authoritarian parents as obedience-and-status- oriented individuals. Moreover, the parents are characterized to demand and expect their orders to be carried on by their children with immediate obedience. Rules set by the parents themselves are not bound for any explanation and the high expectations of conformity and compliance of children from parental standards are strictly regulated. Additionally, authoritarian parents are apt to provide their children with a suitable environment. structured and organized with well-stated rules (Steinberg, 2005). Parents are also bound to hit their child than to ground them up as a form of sanction if a child commits misconducts. Two further divisions of the Authoritarian Parenting are defined. First is the nonauthoritarian-directive type of parenting which involves parents who generally are directive but are not self-imposed with the use of power (Steinberg, 1999). They are not intrusive, in contrast with the other authoritarian type which is the authoritarian-directive parenting (Goodman & Gurian, 1999). Parents who exercise authoritarian-directive parenting are highly intrusive and directive towards their children. Children who were raised by authoritarian parents are subject to a low social competitiveness as due to the fact that the parent themselves directs what shall be done instead of the child being permitted to act according to his own options. Social withdrawal is apparently typical to children from authoritarian households (Weiss & Schwarz, 1998). Additionally, authoritarian implementation develops a child with less initiative and complete dependence on others in terms of taking responsibilities and personal decision-makings. Curiosity and spontaneity furthermore relatively is low among children raised through the authoritarian style of parenting. School performances of an authoritarian-raised child are moderately well as compared with that of an indulgent-raised child. Moreover, problems in behavioral misconducts are rarely encountered, however there is a higher susceptibility to depression (Steinberg, 1999). Authoritative Parenting In contrast with the authoritarian style of parenting is the authoritative approach to child development. Through this parenting style, the consistency of demandingness and responsiveness is both manifested in an authoritative style of parenting. This style of parenting is considered to be the healthiest and most appropriate approach to child rearing. In this method, vivid standards for the betterment of a child's conduct is monitored and imparted completely. There is an open dialogue about the rules and proper behaviors expected from the child. Positively, the child is allowed to freely explore their surroundings (Steinberg, 1999). Parents assert as well their positions, power and rules but they do not confine their children to their standards and further does not intrude into the choices their children make. Limits are enforced by parents but it is for the purpose of protecting their children. Rather than disciplinary or punitive, their methods of rectifying a child's misbehavior are supportive, thus, making their children assertive and socially responsible as they are as parents (Darling, 2004). Parents implementing this style of parenting are able to balance their obedience demands with respect to their children's individuality (Rall, 2004). A high expectation from parents leads the child to submit into the set of parental rules and instructions provided by their parents, therefore resulting to the independence of the children. Furthermore, children brought up by a strict and authoritative parent have higher self-esteem and virtually leads a happy life than others. Children rated by the objective measures of an authoritative parenting are sound to social and instrumental competencies than those whose parents are otherwise (Weiss & Schwarz, 1998). Furthermore, children from authoritative homes are freely engaged with reasoning when enforcing the limits set upon by their parents and their learning is much attributed from how the parents justly raise them as individuals. Through this style as well, a child is exposed to make mistakes and take possibilities without the interference of their parents thereby effectively making them independent (Darling, 2004). Uninvolved Parenting The last among the four types of parenting styles is the so-called Uninvolved parenting which is considered as the worst style to child upbringing. This type of parenting involves parents who are neglectful of their parental responsiveness and demandingness towards their children. They manifest minimal commitment and responsibility to endowing their children with utmost care. Basically, uninvolved parents provide only the bare necessities of a child (Berk, 2005). In other similar cases as well, this style of parenting is highly potential of neglect and rejection (Goodman & Gurian, 1999). Oft-time, parents who raise their children through this approach are emotionally unstable and depressed saving then barely a minimum amount of energy and time to spare for their children. A child's demands, in addition, are met via material and accessible things. Efforts which involves long term purposes such as the establishment of rules about the household and about the social behavioral contexts are apparently transitory (Goodman & Gurian , 1999). There is evidently no strict regulations and limits that are being set by uninvolved parents for their children to follow. Consequently, this type of parenting may result to a hindrance to the personal advancement of the little one. Neglect of parents affects the child severely. A child may possibly turn out either good or bad, which may prove to be not exactly advantageous for him/her. Additionally, such method of parenting deprives the child of an enjoyable childhood and a constant search for parental attention (Darling, 2004). Argument may be raised that uninvolved parenting style permits the development of a child's independence and self-maturity; however, it implies an amount of risk that the child may find his individuality amidst a completely uncontrollable ego that still may produce either an introvert or an extrovert child. (Berk, 2005). The implication of an uninvolved parenting is that while parents allow no extension of freedom and a relatively low level of guidance, their children are encumbered with their bare and unguided personal decision of whether to cross the border or not. Conclusion In conclusion, the different parenting styles function for the employment of parental behaviors and values for a better child upbringing across the society. Balance between parental responsiveness and demandingness is relatively significant in the area of effective parenting. Among the four styles of parenting, the authoritative approach is considered as the most suitable form of raising children as it balances clear parental demands with the child's emotional responsiveness, but without neglecting the independence that the child deserves. Styles used by each parents in order to bring up their own children may definitely vary but whatever parenting style it is that they put into practice, it certainly will serve as the key to raising responsible children. References Baumrind, D. (1991). The Influence of Parenting Style on Adolescent Competence and Substance Use. Journal of Early Adolescence, 56-95. Berk, F. (2005). An Uninvolved Parenting Style - Not Good on Any Level (Publication. Retrieved Oct 18 2007: http://www.syl.com/hb/anuninvolvedparentingstylenotgoodonanylevel.html Darling, N.(2004), Parenting Styles and its Correlates (Publication. Retrieved Oct 18 2007: http://www.athealth.com/Practitioner/ceduc/parentingstyles.html Goodman & Gurian, A. (1999). Parenting Styles/ Children's Temperaments:The Match: McGrawhill Publishing Co. Gurian, G. (1999). Socialization within the Family (Publication. Retrieved Oct 18 2007: http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/education/DLiT/2002/family/parent.htm Maccoby J & Martin, E.( 1998). Socialization in the Context of the Family: Parent-Child Interaction: New York:Wiley. Rall, J. (2004). The Center of Unhindered Living (Publication. Retrieved Oct 18 2007: http://www.unhinderedliving.com/parentingstyles.html Steinberg, L. (1999). Parenting Style: An Integrative Model. Psychological Bulletin, 487-496. Steinberg. (2005). Authoritative Parenting and Adolescent Adjustment: An Ecological Journey. . Washington DC, American Psychological Assn. Weiss & Schwarz, L. (1998). The Relationship between Parenting Types and Older Adolescent’s Personality. Child Development, 2101-2114. Read More