Understanding family behavior and dynamics: parenting styles - Essay Example

UNDERSTANDING FAMILY BEHAVIOR AND DYNAMICS: PARENTING STYLES goes here of goes here goes here May 29, Understanding Family Behavior and Dynamics: Parenting Styles Before going to compare and contrast two different parenting styles for a specific developmental stage between birth and adolescence, let us get a better understanding of what parenting styles actually are. Parenting styles are the standard child development strategies used by the parents during different phases of development. There are different parenting styles, which parents use for the proper upbringing of their children.

Some of the most commonly used parenting styles include authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting styles. In this paper, we will discuss authoritarian and authoritative parenting styles for the developmental stage between birth and adolescence in order to know how each of these styles affects the children and the parents. Authoritarian Parenting Style In this style, parents establish some strict rules for their children, which the children have to follow in order to avoid punishments.

Parents expect their children to follow the rules without any objection or argument. If a child refuses or forgets to follow any of the rules, the parents punish that child for disobedience. An important point regarding authoritarian parenting style is that the parents do not tell the reasons for establishing strict rules to the children. Cherry (c.d.) states, “Authoritarian parents fail to explain the reasoning behind these rules”. Parents having authoritarian style just want their children to obey them under all circumstances.

Authoritarian parenting style affects the children both negatively and positively at the developmental stage from birth to adolescence. This stage is very critical for the children and the children being brought up under authoritarian style although become obedient, responsible, and proficient but they are somewhat less confident and competent as compared to the children who are brought up under authoritative style. “The children of authoritarian parents are also more likely to rebel in adolescence” (Gunsch, n.d.).

Authoritarian approach gives full command and decision-making power to the parents making them control emotional and social development of the children. Authoritative Parenting Style Unlike authoritarian parenting style, authoritative style is much more reasonable and productive. Authoritative parents also set some rules for their children and expect children to follow the rules but the difference is that authoritative parents do not punish their children if they fail to come up to their expectations.

Authoritative parents motivate and encourage their children to do better in future. “Authoritative parents believe in developing a close and nurturing relationship with their children” (Bradley, n.d.). Another difference between authoritarian and authoritative parents is that authoritarian parents are less responsive to the children as compared to authoritative parents. “The Authoritative parent is a good listener and respects that her relationship with her child is a two-way relationship” (Bradley, n.d.).

Authoritative style makes parents responsive and friendly in nature. Authoritative parents although control their children by establishing rules but maintain good relationship with the children, which brings a very positive impact on the children during the developmental stage from birth to adolescence. Therefore, we can say that children of authoritative parents become more confident, independent, and successful as compared to the children who are brought up under authoritarian parenting style.

References Bradley, N. (n.d.). Authoritative Parenting: An Overview. Retrieved from http://parenting.families.com/blog/authoritative-parenting-an-overview Cherry, K. (n.d.). Parenting Styles: The Four Styles of Parenting. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/parenting-style.htm Gunsch, J. (n.d.). What are Some Different Parenting Styles?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-different-parenting-styles.htm