Baumrind’s Parenting Styles

Introduction to Parenting Styles

 During the 1960’s psychologist Diana Baumrind identified four important
dimensions of parenting after conducting a study on over 100 pre-school
children using parental interviews and naturalistic observations.
 These four aspects that led to her classifications of parenting styles are:
 Disciplinary strategies
 Warmth and Nurturance
 Communication Styles
 Expectations of Maturity and Control
 Based on these dimensions, Baumrind decided that parents show one of
the four types of parenting styles with their children:
- Authoritarian - Indulgent
- Authoritative - Neglectful
Authoritarian Parenting
Style: Restrictive,
controlling, demanding
Communication:
Little verbal exchange or
sayings such as, “you do it my
way or else”. Enforces rules but
does not explain them.
Punishment: Frequent
spanking, shows anger
Result: Children of
Authoritarian parents are often
anxious, unhappy and fearful.
They do not initiate in
activities with others and have
weak communication skills.
Examples of
Authoritarian Parenting

Authoritarian parents are unreasonable in their demands

and utilize harsh punishments for wrong doings that could
be corrected through examples or positive reinforcement.

Click on the link to watch a short skit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeaG_Lx-keU&feature=related
Authoritative Parenting
Style: Encouraging, Punishment:
warm, nurturing, explains
constructive consequences and
reasoning behind
them.
Communication: Results: children of
give-and-take, authoritative parents are
often cheerful and outgoing,
positive feedback, achievement oriented and
praise, open-ended strive to meet their goals.
They cope well with stress
and have good relationships
with peers.
Examples of
Authoritative Parenting

-Authoritative parents use equality

to explain their demands and
the reasons behind them.
-They get “on their level” to speak to
their children about following rules.
-They use positive reinforcement
and praise often.

- Children who are raise by authoritative

parents are more willing to go to them
for help and comforting.
-They feel a better sense of trust
and belonging.
-These children are cooperative and
understand why we need rules and
consequences.
Neglectful Parenting
Style: Uninvolved
Communication:
Little communication which
leads to the child’s sense that
parents’ other aspects or life
are much more important.
Punishment: Few cases of
punishment due to un-
involvement
Result: Children of
Neglectful parents are often
socially incompetent, lack of
self-control, low self-esteem,
immature, and are not
successful with independence
Examples of Neglectful
Parenting
A neglectful parent always
puts his/her needs and wants
as first priority. Usually
experiencing financial,
emotional and social stress,
neglectful parents are unable
to encourage, teach or enable
their children. Involvement in addictive
behaviors and lack of
support or friendship can
oftentimes leave children of
neglectful parents with
loneliness, fear and anxiety.
Indulgent/Permissive Parenting
Style: Highly involved Punishment: Allow
with children but place few children to do as they
demands or controls on please
them

Communication: Parent’s Result: These children will

believe this will foster a rarely learn respect for
creative, confident child. others and have difficulty
Overindulge verbally and controlling their behavior.
materialistically Might be domineering,
egocentric, and non-
compliant
Indulgent Parenting Continued…
 Responsive but undemanding
 Oftentimes create children who
are demanding and selfish rather
than loving and supportive
 Children typically possess good
self-esteem and excellent social
skills but can be less motivated in
school because they are not held
accountable for their own
behavior
 Children are often impulsive,
aggressive and lack independence
Baumrind’s Parenting Styles

Accepting, Responsive Rejecting,

Unresponsive

Demanding, Controlling Authoritative Authoritarian

Undemanding, Un- Indulgent Neglectful

controlling
Punishment
The most successful way to increase a
Negative
desired behavior is to use positive reinforcement.
Reinforcement
is to remove a
negative stimulus
following
a response. This
is the least
successful way to
increase a desired
behavior.

Because you're late to

work one morning, you drive
over the speed limit through
a school zone. As a result,
you get pulled over by a
police officer and
receive a ticket.
When something desired is taken away
in order to decrease a certain behavior, it is
called Negative Punishment. This is the least
effective of all punishments.
Co-parenting
 Support given by each
parent when raising a
child
 Poor co-parenting can
place children at risk
 Research shows co-
parenting as more
beneficial than either
maternal or paternal
parenting in terms of
development
Resources
 Cherry, Kendra. (n.d.). Parenting styles. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/pa
renting-style.htm
 Dubai, Helen. (2011). Permissive parenting style. Retrieved from
http://www.consistent-parenting-advice.com/permissive-
parenting-style.html
 Dubai, Helen. (2011). Uninvolved parenting style. Retrieved from
http://www.consistent-parenting-advice.com/uninvolved
parenting-style.html
 Kidsplane. (n.d.). Parenting styles. Retrieved from
http://www.kidsplane.com/parents/parenting_style/index.html
 Santrock, J. W. (2012). Essentials of Life-Span Development. (2nd
ed.) New York: NY.