Lecture 11: Beyond attachment: Parenting styles

Question 1

What are the key dimensions of parenting?

Answer 1

Expressed affection, involvement, conflict, control, monitoring, teaching, and security.

Question 2

What are the four parenting styles identified by Baumrind?

Answer 2

Authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, and rejecting-neglecting.

Question 3

Describe the characteristics and outcomes of authoritarian parenting.

Answer 3

• Characteristics: High control, low nurturance; obedience emphasized, minimal praise.
• Outcomes: Children show low independence and social responsibility

Question 4

Describe the characteristics and outcomes of permissive parenting.

Answer 4

• Characteristics: High affection, low control; few demands placed on children.
• Outcomes: Children tend to lack impulse control, self-reliance, and social responsibility.

Question 5

Describe the characteristics and outcomes of authoritative parenting.

Answer 5

• Characteristics: High warmth, firm but non-punitive control, open communication.
• Outcomes: Children are self-reliant, socially responsible, cooperative, and keen to achieve.

Question 6

Describe the characteristics and outcomes of rejecting-neglecting parenting.

Answer 6

• Characteristics: Low responsiveness, low demands; parents may neglect or reject caregiving.
• Outcomes: Most harmful, leading to low cognitive and social competence in children.

Question 7

What did Dornbusch et al. (1987) find about parenting styles and school performance?

Answer 7

• Authoritative parenting was linked to better school performance.
• Authoritarian and permissive parenting were associated with poorer outcomes.

Question 8

What did Sahithya et al. (2019) conclude about parenting in India?

Answer 8

• Similar outcomes for authoritative parenting as in Western cultures.
• Cultural shifts in India are moving from authoritarian to authoritative practices.

Question 9

What did Pinquart & Kauser (2018) find in their meta-analysis of parenting styles?

Answer 9

• Data: Over 400 studies, 350,000 children, 50 countries.
• Finding: Authoritative parenting consistently associated with the best outcomes.

Question 10

How has research shifted in studying parenting styles?

Answer 10

• Focus on parenting dimensions rather than global styles.
• Emphasizes situational factors like parental mood, danger, and time pressures (Smetana, 2017).

Question 11

What is bidirectionality in parent-child relationships?

Answer 11

The dynamic reciprocal influence where the child affects the parent and vice versa (Oliver, 2015).

Question 12

What are the core principles of Family Systems Theory (Minuchin, 1985)?

Answer 12

1. Wholeness: The family is greater than the sum of its parts.
2. Subsystem Integrity: Subsystems can be studied independently.
3. Circularity: All components are interdependent.
4. Stability and Change: Systems adapt to external influences.

Question 13

What did Stroud et al. (2015) study about spillover effects?

Answer 13

• Focus: How marital relationships affect family interactions and child adjustment.
• Methods: Observations, self- and partner-reports, and the Child Behavior Checklist.
• Findings: Adaptive marital functioning led to greater warmth and fewer behavior problems in children.

Question 14

What did cross-cultural studies reveal about Baumrind’s parenting styles?

Answer 14

Baumrind’s categories apply across cultures but are influenced by cultural contexts (Sorkhabi, 2005).

Question 15

What matters more for child adjustment: family structure or family functioning?

Answer 15

Family functioning and relationship quality (e.g., warmth, communication) are more important than family structure (Golombok, 2015).

Question 16

What are the outcomes associated with authoritative parenting in Western samples?

Answer 16

• Higher subjective well-being, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.
• Lower depression, substance use, and behavioral problems (Sahithya et al., 2019).

Question 17

How does child adjustment differ for boys and girls in spillover studies?

Answer 17

• Boys: Responsive to mothers affected internalizing behaviors.
• Girls: Responsive to mothers influenced externalizing behaviors (Stroud et al., 2015).

Question 18

How does cultural context influence parenting practices?

Answer 18

Cultural norms shape the expression of parenting styles, with shifts in some cultures (e.g., India) moving from authoritarian to more authoritative practices (Sahithya et al., 2019).

Question 19

What are the differences between behavioral and psychological control in parenting?

Answer 19

• Behavioral control: Enforcing rules and monitoring behavior.
• Psychological control: Manipulation of emotions and thoughts, which is harmful to development.

Question 20

How do children’s temperaments influence parenting strategies?

Answer 20

Children’s behaviors and temperaments can elicit different responses from parents, demonstrating bidirectional effects (Oliver, 2015).

Question 21

What does the “wholeness” principle in Family Systems Theory mean?

Answer 21

The family functions as an organized whole, greater than the sum of its individual members (Minuchin, 1985).

Question 22

What is the importance of triadic interactions in family systems research?

Answer 22

Triadic interactions (child with both parents) provide insights into family dynamics and their impact on child adjustment (Stroud et al., 2015).

Question 23

What is the significance of warmth in family functioning?

Answer 23

Warmth in family relationships promotes better psychological adjustment and reduces behavior problems in children (Golombok, 2015).

Question 24

How do parenting styles influence adolescent substance use?

Answer 24

Authoritative parenting reduces the likelihood of substance misuse in adolescents, while permissive or neglectful parenting increases risk (Sahithya et al., 2019).

Question 25

What role does open communication play in authoritative parenting?

Answer 25

Open communication fosters mutual respect, cooperation, and problem-solving skills in children, contributing to their competence and self-reliance (Baumrind, 1966–1973).