Parenting Styles

Three unique divisions of parenting styles by three different theorists, Kohn, Lareau, and Baumrind, were discussed in class. Kohn’s division of parenting styles is composed of self-direction versus conformity. Parents who practice conformity have working class occupations and prefer routine, strict supervision of their children and coordinated group or team action. Parents who practice self-direction stress the child’s motives and development of self-control, consideration, reasoning, curiosity, and initiative conformity. Lareau’s division of parenting styles consists of concerted cultivation and accomplishment of natural growth. Concerted cultivation is the belief in and act of fostering and assessing children’s interests and abilities. Accomplishment of natural growth is the belief in providing food and shelter only because development comes spontaneously. Baumrind’s division of parenting styles is comprised of authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative styles. Authoritarian style is when parents demand absolute obedience from their children and often use punishment to control their children’s behavior. Permissive style is when parents encourage autonomy in their children, give them the freedom to express and downplay conformity, impose few rules and regulations on their children, and have little control over them. Authoritative style is a style in which parents encourage freedom and autonomy in their children, rely on positive reinforcement towards their children, avoid punishing their children as much as possible, and are in control of their children. Baumrind’s types of parenting styles are related to the cohesion of the parents and the intellectual orientation, organization, and achievement of the children. I favor Baumrind’s division of parenting styles the most for a few reasons. The first reason is that it involves three types of parenting styles rather than two examples which shows that there is a middle ground between two extreme and opposing styles. Second, Baumrind’s examples are more detailed and focus on the roles both parents and children play and the interaction of these roles in child development. Finally, I find Baumrind’s illustrations of parenting styles to be closer in line with the realities that I have observed and experienced in my own family and the families of my peers. Baumrind’s division of parenting styles with its unique and descriptive examples paints a more accurate and precise picture of parenting styles for both parents and children in the institution of the family.