PARENTING STYLES Meaning and
Definition
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Parenting styles refer to the various approaches and strategies that parents employ to raise and nurture their children. It encompasses the overall pattern of behavior and interaction exhibited by parents in their roles as caregivers and guides in a child's life. Different parenting styles have different goals, expectations, and levels of involvement in the child's upbringing.
There are generally four main types of parenting styles that have been extensively studied and described by psychologists. These include authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful parenting styles.
Authoritative parenting is characterized by high levels of warmth, support, and responsiveness from parents while also setting clear and reasonable boundaries. Authoritative parents are assertive yet nurturing, encourage independence, and value communication and mutual respect.
Authoritarian parenting entails strict rules and expectations without much flexibility or openness to discussion. Authoritarian parents are often demanding and controlling, using punishment as a means of discipline rather than explanation or understanding.
Permissive parenting involves an indulgent approach where parents are highly nurturing and have minimal expectations or discipline. Permissive parents prioritize their child's happiness and may avoid setting boundaries or enforcing rules.
Neglectful parenting is characterized by a lack of responsiveness and involvement, with parents showing little attention to their child's needs, desires, or overall well-being. Neglectful parents may be emotionally detached and uninvolved in their child's life.
It is important to note that these parenting styles are not mutually exclusive, and parents may demonstrate different styles in different situations or stages of their child's development. Parenting styles significantly influence a child's social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as their self-esteem and behavior.
Etymology of PARENTING STYLES
The word "parenting" is derived from the verb "parent", which can be traced back to the Latin word "parēns", meaning "parent" or "progenitor".
The term "style" originated from the Latin word "stilus", which referred to a tool used for writing on wax tablets. Over time, "style" evolved to denote a particular manner or way of doing something.
The combination of "parenting" and "styles" refers to the various approaches or methods that parents employ in raising and nurturing their children. The term gained popularity in the field of child psychology and development in the 1960s and has since been used to describe different patterns of parenting behaviors and attitudes.
