Children exhibit different behavioral characteristics depending on their upbringing. Diana Baumrind developed four parenting styles explaining children behaviour in specific situations. The authoritative style is associated with clear rules, support, independence, and high expectations. Children raised by authoritative parents are most likely to develop good social skills and self-esteem. The authoritarian, neglectful, and permissive parenting styles are characterized by less support and unresponsiveness, which leaves children prone to mental challenges, substance abuse, and delinquency. Although the permissive and neglectful parents impose no rules on their children, they fail to offer guidance leading to impulsive behavior in children.
Consider a typical parent-child situation characterized by the following aspects: the child’s academic performance is poor, the child appears antisocial and rebellious, and shows interest in drugs and alcohol. This situation can be explained following the four Baumrind’s parenting techniques. First, an authoritative parent will recognize the need for parental support and independence while formulating clear rules. Giving the child a chance to explain themselves and guiding them would make the child more social and improve their academic performance. An authoritarian parent may most likely impose strict rules on their child, barring them from alcohol and drugs, making them more rebellious and delinquent.
A permissive parent would handle the above situation by assuming that their child needs a warm and responsive approach with no rules, making the child more egocentric and impulsive. Lastly, a negligent parent would approach the issue with a cold and unresponsive parental behavior. Negligence would worsen the situation because the parent would show no concern leaving the child to do as they please. As a result, the child would suffer from suicidal thoughts and substance abuse.