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What type of parent are you? Since the 1960s, there has been many studies done on the different styles of parenting.  3 parenting styles have arisen to help comprehend and clarify the behaviour and development of children.

By observing parenting styles and the impact that parents have on a child has been a fascination for researchers and sociologists over many  years; but, it was the work of Diane Baumrind that defined the idea of distinct parenting styles and the properties each method has on behaviour, social skills, and adulthood .

Baumrind’s philosophy is based on the two dynamic fundamentals of parental awareness, which includes warmth, ‘supportiveness’, and acceptance, and parental demandingness, which considers disciplinary strategies and methods of behaviour control. The job of a parent is to inspire, teach, and direct their children to become protected, happy, self-determining adults, and such things as communication styles, expectancies, and parenting methods can either help or impede this procedure.

No one can deny that sometimes children raised in the same home grow up to be very different, while children raised in seemingly opposite environments may be equal when measured according to Baumrind’s ideas of maturity and social adjustment.
Of course, classifying detailed styles and recognizing foreseen results, is limited since few parents will fit conclusively into only one style.

Many parents use a combination of methods, and two parents may fluctuate in their principles and viewpoints even though they are educating the same child. Different characters, social situations, and the existence of other authority figures in a child’s life cannot be overlooked when assessing the consequences of parenting on child improvement.
Baumrind’s concept delivers a great standard in assisting parents recognize prized techniques and distinguishing areas that need adjustment, but it should only be used as a framework to build upon. Every parent needs to express their own child’s requirements and work to successfully meet those needs, converging on the individual and using the concept of parenting styles as an instrument to help children become happy, healthy, strong, adults.

1. Authoritarian. This style is described as high demandingness, and low responsiveness, meaning that parents have very high levels of expectancy, and very low acceptance for individualism, inspiration, or personal yearnings. They structure, regulate, and judge performance based on an unquestionable set of values, and demand that directions had better be obeyed without query. Custom, expectedness, and unbending instruction are esteemed, and failure to follow the rules is not accepted. Behaviour is coordinated by chastisement. There is no middle ground and no room for discussion or communication. Policies are not explained, nor do parents feel it is necessary since unquestionable obedience is expected. The goal is for children to behave as adults, assume mature responsibilities, and conform to expectations.  Authoritarian parents have a very black and white point of view and children are always being judged or evaluated based on this distinction, making them either ‘good or bad’ or ‘right or wrong’.

Children brought up in severe, authoritarian families are often apprehensive and reserved, have low self-confidence, because they are incapable to live up to anticipations, and usually do not participate in unexpected behaviour. Since most evaluations are made for them, they tend to not very good at self-determining thinking, rank lower in social proficiency, and are reluctant to try new things. They incline to respond poorly to obstructions, and are have complications in dealing resourcefully with encounters. Basically, these children conform out of fear of chastisement and their behaviour is dictated by outside rudiments.

2. Permissive. This style is determined by high awareness, but low demandingness. Lenient parents are very indulgent and respond well to their child’s desires and have very few expectations. They use reasoning, manipulation, and bribes to achieve control and want to be their child’s friend rather than an authority figure. They believe that children should be treated as equals and given a high level of independence; however, they do not believe them to behave as grown-ups. This could lead to a self-centred, ‘me’ focused arrogance with slight respect for the requirements of others. Permissive parents are frequently afraid of skirmish so punishment is rare. Inflexible rules are well-thought-out to be preventive and children are involved in the conclusion making procedure, with all strategies being open for argument and quarrel. While they have very few outlooks, they are very tolerant of their children’s requests and wellbeing and inspire them to follow every chance that comes their way.

Inappropriately, a comprehensive absence of restrictions often results in uncertainty. Children do not know what they can count on, and will frequently test the parameters, aware that their parents will do everything needed to evade encounter. Children raised in permissive families tend to be thoughtless, disobedient, are more expected to participate in unreasonable behavior, sometimes even problematical behaviour. Since they are treated as equals, they have good communication abilities, but may display lowly emotional directive and tend to give up effortlessly when challenged with an encounter.

3. Authoritative. This parenting style is essentially a ‘central ground’ or arrangement of the preceding two. It is defined by a high level of demandingness composed with a similarly high level of awareness. Parents are sympathetic rather than disciplinary; however, they do have a clear standard of behavioural expectancies. The authoritative parent will ‘direct’ adequately than ‘control’ and endeavour to agree the individuality and benefits of each child. They make available motives for rules and welcome response, both heeding and recognizing their children’s opinion. Children are assumed a assured degree of say, with the understanding that the parent is the ultimate specialist. Chastisement is not frequently used to avert bad behaviour, and children are encouraged to achieve their full potential and make their own judgements within an organised framework of limitations.

Diana Baumrind was a strong advocate of authoritative parenting. She believed that positive attention, fair rules, and a heartfelt, accepting atmosphere leads to happy, well-adjusted children who are self-confident, accomplished, and goal-oriented. Research has shown that these children have well developed social skills, work to master tasks, and are able to think both independently and creatively.
The 3 parenting styles introduced by Baumrind help parents evaluate their techniques and develop their own affirmative policies, so they can successfully raise happy contented children who will grow to become secure, responsible, independent adults.

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