Authoritative vs Authoritarian Parenting Styles PDF

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Authoritative vs Authoritarian Parenting Styles Authoritative parenting and authoritarian parenting are the two most common parenting styles. Let’s compare these two parenting styles’ characteristics and effects on children.

Authoritative vs Authoritarian Parenting Authoritative and authoritarian sound pretty similar. These two parenting styles in psychology both imply authority. However, although their names are similar, they have completely different principles and effects on children. Here is the difference between authoritative and authoritarian parenting in characteristics. PARENTAL WARMTH Compared with authoritarian parents, authoritative parents are likely to be warm, nurturing and responsive. According to Attachment Theory, developed by psychologist, Mary Ainsworth in 1970s, responsive parenting creates secure attachment in the child. Children with secure attachment are happier and healthier. Many studies confirm that compared with the

children of authoritarian parents, the children of authoritative parents are indeed more content1. Because authoritative parents are responsive to their children’s emotional needs, kids from authoritative families have good emotional control. They develop resilience and can recuperate quickly from setbacks. Compared to authoritative parents, authoritarian parents are the exact opposite in terms of warmth and responsiveness. Authoritarian parents are cold and nonresponsive. They view children’s sensitive emotion as weakness and suppress it. FREEDOM Authoritative parents allow their kids to seek autonomy and independence. Instead of tight control, they closely monitor their children’s behavior and correct them as needed. Studies show that parental monitoring substantially reduce a child’s risk in antisocial behavior, delinquency and drug abuse2. Parental monitoring is most likely to be effective and healthy when it is in a warm and supportive relationship. Authoritative parents also involve their children in making decisions for the family. Bidirectional communication are encouraged. On the other hand, authoritarian parents discourage independence seeking. They do not involve children in decision making. Kids are given orders instead of requests from the parents.

RULES Both authoritative and authoritarian parents are strict and have high expectation of their kids. Authoritative parents are strict and warm, while authoritarian parents are strict and cold. Authoritative parents discuss and explain rules to their children. They are open to give-and-take discussion and will modify rules if appropriate. Children are taught to think critically about the reasons behind each rule. Because kids with authoritative parents can speak their mind and participate in decision making, they are more assertive and have higher self-esteem. Authoritarian parents only allows one-way communication. They use “because I said so” as the reason for rules. Children are expected to blindly obey without questions. They are not allowed to have or voice their opinions. Kids are often “seen but not heard”. Children whose parents have an authoritarian parenting style can be insecure and apprehensive. CONTROL Both authoritative and authoritarian parents hold very high standards and control over the kids’ behavior. However, authoritarian parents also impose tight psychological control over their kids. They believe that

they are the authorities who are always right. Their kids need to accept their judgement and values at all times. Authoritarian parents seem to worry about undercontrolling their children. Therefore, they want to do the opposite but use the other extreme, i.e. become controlling parents to over-control their children. Authoritarian parents rely on a child’s sense of fear toward the parents to exert psychological control. Children whose parents use psychological control as a means of discipline are more likely to be submissive, apprehensive and dependent. Some children fight to be free from such control resulting in externalizing behavior problems3.

DISCIPLINE Authoritative parents tend to use non-punitive measures such as time-in and natural consequence to discipline. Authoritarian parents favor punitive punishment. Interestingly enough, although authoritative parents allow children to have more freedom and autonomy, their standards are usually higher than the authoritarian parents’. They also follow through on the consequence more consistently.

Similar Characterist ics

Authoritative

Authoritarian

Standards

Set high standards. Expect kids to follow rules

Set high standards. Expect kids follow rules

Different Characteristi cs

Authoritative

Authoritarian

Parental Warmth

Warm, nurturing and involved in the child’s schooling and life

Cold, non-nurturing and le involved in the child’s schooling and life

Freedom

Autonomy and independence are allowed. Bidirectional communication is encouraged

Do not allow independenc One-way communication. Children’s opinions are no heard or allowed

Rules

Use reasoning to explain limits. Have give-and-take discussions

Use “Because I said so” t explain limits

Discipline

Very consistent in disciplining using non-punitive measures such as inductive discipline, timein or natural consequence. Focus on teaching correct behavior

Punitive. Focus on punish wrong behavior to deter future occurrence.

Allow freedom within reasonable limits. Encourage autonomy and independence.

Believe in total control ov kids, behaviorally and psychologically. Kids are expected to obey parents without question.

Control

Effects On Kids Authoritative parenting results in better outcomes in children overall. The only exception is that some inconsistencies in school performance are found in other ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Asian Americans.

Having high standards and enforcing limits consistently may be the reasons why kids with authoritative parents achieve higher academic results4. Another factor for high academic performance is high parental involvement in authoritative parenting. Authoritative parents tend to monitor children’s homework and volunteer in their schools. Research has found that involvement by parents is directly linked to better school performance5. But authoritarian parents also have high standards and enforce limits. Some are also very involved in the child’s schooling (e.g. Tiger mom parenting). This could potentially explain why in some cultures, such as the Chinese, authoritarian parenting is associated with better grades. However, authoritarian parents hold tight psychological control and favor punitive punishment for discipline. Despite the academic success, kids with authoritarian parents are more depressed and have more mental issues1.

Kids’ Outcome

Authoritative

Authoritarian

Mood

Tend to be happy and content

Tend to have unhappy disposition

Self-esteem

Have high self-esteem. Are more assertive and selfreliant.

Are insecure and apprehensive. Some are also submissive and dependent.

SelfRegulation

Good emotional control and resilient. Recover from setback quickly.

More likely to become hostile an regressive under pressure

Relationships

Affiliative. Well liked by peers.

Non-affiliative. Tend not to get along with peers.

Mental Wellbeing

Good mental health

More mental issues such as depression, anxiety and drug use

Academic Performance

High academic achievements. More active in school activities.

Generally lower academic performance, but inconsistent results are found in some subpopulation...