Parenting Styles There Are Numerous

Parenting Styles

There are numerous theories and styles associated with child rearing. Typically, these are psychological templates that approach different parenting situations in unique ways based on a child's behavior, the situation, and even life-stages. Parenting styles are affected by both parents' and children's temperaments, often based on the parent's own issues with their childhood (Harris, 1998).

While most parents learn parenting practices from their own parents -- some they accept, some they discard (Santrock, 2007). However, in contemporary global society, this is often insufficient for a child's entry into a complex world.

Harris, J. (1998). "The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They

Do." The New York Times. Cited in:

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/h/harris-nurture.html?_r=3&scp=3&sq=socialization%20of%20children&st=cse&oref=slogin

Santrock, J.W. (2007). A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development, 3rd ed. Mc-Graw

Hill.

Outline:

A. Parenting Styles -- Definition

B. Psychological Impact of Parenting Style

C. Literature Review

D. The 21st Century Child

E. Developing Parenting Skills

F. New Techniques for the 21st Century

G. Conclusions and Implications

Preliminary Bibliography:

Barnett, M. (2008). "Mother and Grandmother Parenting in Low-Income Three -- Generation Rural Households." Journal of Marriage and Family. 70 (5): 2008.

The simple reality in modern society is that children are not always afforded the luxury of two parent homes. One of the more common dysfunctions has children living with their mother and grandmother at the grandmother's residence. This may not foster positive childrearing environments, and form some of the highest needs for social service intervention.

Donaldson-Pressman, S. And R. Pressman. (1997). The Narcissistic Family. Jossey Bass.

Written from a psychological perspective, this book presents an innovative therapeutic model for understanding emotionally abusive or neglectful families. For whatever reason (Job stress, alcoholism, substance abuse, mental illness, lack of parenting skills, etc.) narcissistic families are primarily involved in satisfying parent's needs, at the detriment of the child.

Furedi, F. (2001). "Paranoid Parenting" Why Ignoring the Experts May Be Best for Your

Child. Allen Lane.

Furedi is a sociologist who argues that parents are not just worried, but quite paranoid do to the glut of "published experts." He asserts that self-described "experts" and the media have disenfranchised parents with pseudoscientific principles and contradictory advice. By exposing those myths and paradoxes, Furedi seeks to re-empower parents with his global perspective to parenting.

Gill, T. (2007). "No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society." Calouste Gulbenkian

Foundation. Cited in:

http://www.gulbenkian.org.uk/media/item/1266/223/No-fear-19.12.07.pdf

In the modern world, states Gill, opportunities for children are being drastically constrained due to a fear for their safety. Parents are afraid of parks, playgrounds, malls -- of people, events, the natural world -- and often end up over protecting their children to the detriment of their psychological health. Instead, Gill argues that the concern about safety does not reflect the real situation, just the media hype, and offers suggestions to help parents cope better with a balanced approach.

Rodriguez, M., et.al. (2009). "Parenting Styles in a Cultural Context." Family Process. 48

(2): 195+.

Different subcultures have differing parental styles. These differences in styles often account for acculturation techniques that change dramatically between cultures. One of the most important parts of the study is that it shows, quantitatively, that while expressions of warmth and love were relatively equal across cultures, they differed for boys and girls on demandingness and autonomy. This, of course, has considerable future implications for research.