The best parenting style Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The best parenting style - Research Paper Example Several studies discovered that parenting style can affect the personalities and behaviors of their children (Evans, 2012; Baldwin, McIntyre, & Hardaway, 2007). To determine the best patenting style, a number of secondary sources and one primary source have been used. In several cases, the best parenting style is authoritative parenting, although other factors, including culture, family dynamics, and children’s traits can affect the decision for choosing the style that fits the context and individualities of children. Authoritarian parents are not very good in raising happy, confident, sociable, and high-achieving children. These parents integrate high control with low warmth or parental involvement (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010, p. 250). They want to nurture the values of hard work, compliance, and discipline among their children (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010, p.250). Clinical psychologist Block described that authoritarian parenting focuses on maintaining control and authority (personal communication, October 20, 2012). She stated: â€Å"[Authoritarian parents] use their authority to control their children. They make rules that are explained through the need to be obedient to authority† (personal communication, October 20, 2012). She explained that authoritarian parents are strict and demanding because they expect their children to act as adults. Their punishment tends to be physical and punitive: â€Å"They punish children who do not follow their rules, sometimes through spanking them† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Furthermore, authoritative parents rarely show warmth toward their children because â€Å"many think that warmth will make their children weak† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Authoritarian parents think that control and less emotional interaction is the best way to raise children. Kail and Cavanaugh (2010) noted from their review of studies that authoritarian parents raise children who tend to be unhappy and overly aggressive, while permissive parents tend to have children with poor self-control and are very impulsive. Block explained that the children of authoritarian parents can have extreme behaviors (personal communication, October 20, 2012). On the one hand, some are â€Å"rebellious and have been involved in alcohol and drug abuse† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Some have developed â€Å"bullying behaviors† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). On the other hand, others are very â€Å"obedient and efficient in following rules† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Block underlined that they follow because of â€Å"fear for punishment, and not because they believe that it is right† (personal communication, October 20, 2012). Happiness is elusive too: â€Å"I have interviewed these children and none of them are happy. They may project high self-esteem, but they are very uncert ain in discussing their goals and identity† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Hence, children of authoritarian students are not always happy and successful in their chosen fields, probably because of their reaction to their parents’ authoritarian control on their lives. Permissive parents may be too lenient, although they can raise self-assured and disciplined students too. Permissive parenting has little rules and demands; these parents are very responsive to their children’s emotional needs (Shaffer, 2009, p. 378). The idea is to