| In the 1940's and 1950's Diana Baumrind, a clinical and | | | | punishment and shame. Instead of teaching respect |
| behavioural psychologist from New York City, | | | | and character, this can have the effect of teaching |
| introduced her ideas of different parenting styles. | | | | children to feel bad about themselves, that their |
| These three main parenting styles are authoritarian | | | | parents' love is based on their behaviour, and though it |
| (too hard), permissive (too soft), and authoritative (just | | | | does teach them to avoid inappropriate behaviour, |
| right) parenting. In this article, we will explore what | | | | they are doing so out of a fear of punishment rather |
| authoritarian parenting is, and we will also discuss the | | | | than because of a strong moral value system that |
| repercussions and outcomes of this parenting style in | | | | encourages them to make the proper choices. |
| terms of child development and self esteem. | | | | Children with authoritarian parents usually don't learn to |
| Authoritarian parenting is characterized by strong, | | | | think for themselves and find it hard to understand the |
| sometimes harsh discipline. These parents value | | | | reasons for doing the right thing, since they were |
| obedience and subjection to authority rather than | | | | taught simply to obey and not ask questions. They |
| independent thinking, and may use shame, coercion, | | | | often have low self worth, experience tremendous |
| and blame to achieve their goals. They often hold their | | | | amounts of stress and guilt, and may suffer from |
| children to high standards of achievement, and are | | | | anxiety disorders later in life. Stability and love is very |
| sometimes withholding of love or affection if their | | | | important to a child's emotional development, and |
| children do not meet the standards they set. As a | | | | authoritarian parenting does not afford this type of |
| result, children of authoritarian parents generally don't | | | | environment. Because children don't know the reasons |
| perceive their parents' love as unconditional and may | | | | behind why they need to obey orders, they often feel |
| connect success with love in their minds. Parents who | | | | caught off guard by a new rule or discipline, where if |
| practice authoritarian parenting usually don't provide | | | | they had been taught the reasons why they may |
| their children with reasons why they need to do the | | | | have been able to anticipate that a certain behaviour |
| right thing. It's more likely that an authoritarian parent | | | | was unacceptable before they committed the act. |
| would say, "Because I said so," instead of explaining | | | | All in all, authoritarian parenting may be seen as |
| the reason behind their request. They focus more on | | | | successful to the parents, as the result is a very |
| negative behaviour than positive. | | | | compliant child, but most child development experts |
| Authoritarian parenting can be detrimental to a child's | | | | agree that it can be very detrimental to a child's |
| psychological and emotional development. Although | | | | psychological well being and can make them struggle |
| authoritarian parents generally have good intentions, | | | | later in life with bonded relationships to friends, spouses, |
| and want to teach their children to grow up to be good | | | | and also their future children. A much more balanced |
| people and to respect their parents' sacrifices, they | | | | style of discipline is necessary for a happy and healthy |
| attempt to do so by using tools such as harsh | | | | child. |