Parenting Styles and its Impact

There are four main styles according to which parenting can be categorised. Diana Baumrind, a clinical and developmental psychologist, gave the following parenting styles- authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive/indulgent. Maccoby and Martin later added the uninvolved/neglectful style. The style in which we parent has an affect on the child’s mental health. The four Styles and their impact are as follows:

Authoritative Style

This is considered the best parenting style in which parents are nurturing, responsive, and supportive, yet set firm limits for their children and realistic expectations. They try to control children's behaviour by explaining rules, discussing, and reasoning. They listen to a child's viewpoint but they may or may not accept it. It’s Impact- Children who have been raised with the authoritative parenting style are capable, confident, they tend to be happier and they have a better locus of control.

They have better interpersonal relationships and are better able to regulate their emotions. They tend to have a higher self-esteem and they have perform better. This style is considered as the gold standard for parenting style develop into more healthy, capable adults with a better self-esteem and self confidence.

Authoritarian Style

These types of parents are highly controlling and demanding. It places high expectations on children. They do not nurture their children. It focuses on unquestioning obedience, and enforces good behaviour through psychological control threats, shaming, and other punishments. Its Impact- The children raised by parents who adopted an authoritarian style are well-behaved and disciplined because they have been brought up in an environment where they feared going against their caregivers because of the fear of punishments. They rank lower in happiness, social competence, and  self-esteem . They may find it hard to be expressive as they fear putting out their needs. They can also become rebels when they grow older because of feeling controlled in their childhood.

Permissive Parenting

In this parenting style, parents are warm, but lax. They fail to set firm limits, to monitor children's activities closely. They rarely enforce rules or structure. There is emphasis on freedom rather than responsibility. It’s impact- These children tend to be confident and they may have a high self-esteem. They are able to develop interpersonal relationships. They may have problems working with authority and they may lack self-control. They may also be perceived as selfish and demanding individuals.

Uninvolved Parenting

Parents do not respond to their child's needs. They are neglectful, indifferent or dismissive, emotionally distant. They have limited interaction with their children. They show little warmth, love, and affection towards their children. It’s impact- Children brought up in such an environment, may be unloved, may lack emotional regulation. They may have a hard time with resort to interpersonal relationships and they lack guidance. This parenting style ranks lowest across all life domains.

Parenting styles have a very big impact on our personality and the way we function. Therefore, parents should be cautious about the way they parent as it can have an adverse effect on the type of people we become. According to research, authoritative parenting style is the best. A few ways in which parents can be authoritative are:

• Validate your child's feelings and emotions.

• Set clear rules which are not very rigid.

• Give your child autonomy and choices.

• Be there for your child.

• Encourage self-discipline

• Turn mistakes into learning opportunities.

Disclaimer: This blog post is meant for awareness/entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice and one must refrain from self-diagnosing. It is in no way a substitute for therapy with a mental health professional and it is not meant to be clinical. To consult with a psychotherapist on our team, you can contact us on fettle.counselling@gmail.com.