Parenting Styles

Self-Concept Developed by age 12 Developed by age 12 Assessment of who they are Assessment of who they are Infants recognize self in mirror Infants recognize self in mirror Adoptees do not have lower self-esteem Adoptees do not have lower self-esteem Views of self affect actions Views of self affect actions

Baumrind’s 4 Aspects of Parental Behavior 1) strictness 2) demands for child to achieve intellectual, emotional, and social maturity 3) communication ability 4) warmth and involvement

Authoritative Strict (restrictive) & have expectations/demands but express love & respect for children Strict (restrictive) & have expectations/demands but express love & respect for children Willingness to reason with and understand their children Willingness to reason with and understand their children Explain reasons behind rules and expectations Explain reasons behind rules and expectations Show warmth, are involved Show warmth, are involved

Authoritarian Strict demands, no warmth Strict demands, no warmth Rely on force & communicate poorly with children Rely on force & communicate poorly with children “Because I say so!” “Because I say so!”

Permissive Easygoing, no rules or expectations Easygoing, no rules or expectations Children do whatever they wish Children do whatever they wish Warm and supportive, but very poor at communicating Warm and supportive, but very poor at communicating

How do parenting styles affect children? Authoritative Parenting Authoritative Parenting - socially competent - emotionally well-adjusted - higher self-esteem & achievement motivation - greater self-reliance

Authoritarian Parenting Withdrawn Withdrawn Aggressive Aggressive Moderate achievement Moderate achievement Higher rates of depression Higher rates of depression

Permissive Parenting Least mature Least mature More impulsive & moody More impulsive & moody Aggressive Aggressive Higher rates of delinquency Higher rates of delinquency Poor academics Poor academics High self-esteem High self-esteem Lower rates of depression Lower rates of depression

Culture & Child-rearing Practices reflect cultural values Practices reflect cultural values Western cultures – parents prefer independent children Western cultures – parents prefer independent children Asians & African cultures value emotional closeness Asians & African cultures value emotional closeness – “family self” (what brings honor or shame to family) No one way is right No one way is right

How much do parents matter? Parental influence is more clear at its extremes Parental influence is more clear at its extremes Parents influence children’s political attitudes, religious beliefs, personal manners Parents influence children’s political attitudes, religious beliefs, personal manners Environmental influences account for less than 10% of children’s personality differences Environmental influences account for less than 10% of children’s personality differences – Personality is more likely genetic/biological Parental & peer influences are complementary Parental & peer influences are complementary Peers more important for cooperation, interaction Peers more important for cooperation, interaction

Parents & Peers Genes dictate brain architecture, but experience fills in details Genes dictate brain architecture, but experience fills in details Rosenzweig experiment – rats in enriched environment had thicker cortexes Rosenzweig experiment – rats in enriched environment had thicker cortexes “Use it or lose it” with neural pathways = PRUNING “Use it or lose it” with neural pathways = PRUNING

Gender Development Genders similar in genetic makeup and intelligence, vocabulary, happiness Genders similar in genetic makeup and intelligence, vocabulary, happiness Genders differ in body fat, muscle, height, life expectancy Genders differ in body fat, muscle, height, life expectancy Women more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, eating disorders Women more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, eating disorders Men more susceptible to suicide and alcohol dependence, color-blindness, ADHD, autism, anti-social personality disorder Men more susceptible to suicide and alcohol dependence, color-blindness, ADHD, autism, anti-social personality disorder

Gender Development Gender & aggression Gender & aggression – Men show more aggression (physical) Gender & social power Gender & social power – Men perceived as more dominant, forceful, independent – Women viewed more nurturing Gender & social connectedness Gender & social connectedness – Women more interdependent, seek out social connections – “tend and befriend” – Male answer syndrome

Nature of Gender X, Y chromosomes (23 rd chromosome) X, Y chromosomes (23 rd chromosome) Testosterone Testosterone

Nurture of Gender Gender roles = expectations about way men and women should behave Gender roles = expectations about way men and women should behave Gender identity = sense of being male/female Gender identity = sense of being male/female Gender typing = learning of traditional male/female roles Gender typing = learning of traditional male/female roles Social learning theory = children learn gender-linked behaviors by observing & imitating Social learning theory = children learn gender-linked behaviors by observing & imitating