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Cecilia E Perez

English 1302-264

Trishia Briones

29 February 2024

Parenting Styles and Their Impact on Child Development

I. Introduction

From infancy to adolescence, children deeply rely on their parents for guidance and

support in navigating the complexities of their emotions. Learning to regulate emotional

responses in adaptive ways may underline positive outcomes and decrease vulnerability for

emotional and behavioral problems (Feng et al, pg #). Understanding the impact of parental

behavior on emotional regulation provides valuable insight into promoting healthier parent-child

relationships and nurturing strong individuals from a younger state. There are different types of

parenting that can have profound effects on their emotional, social, and cognitive development.

The parenting styles that will be evaluated are authoritarian and authoritative.

II. Parenting Styles & Their Emotional Impact.

The different parenting styles play a significant part in defining children’s emotional

development.

Authoritative parenting is a parenting style characterized by a combination of warmth,

nurturing, and clear boundaries. It is about providing guidance and encouragement while

allowing children to express themselves and learn from their mistakes. Parents in this style

encourage dialogue with their children, listen to their concerns, and provide explanations for

regulations and decisions. Emotionally, authoritative parenting tends to have a positive impact on
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children. By listening with full attention, practicing non-judgmental acceptance, cultivating

emotional awareness, regulating our own responses, and showing compassion (Gouveia et al) it

creates a supportive environment where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings.

In the other hand authoritarian style focuses on discipline and obedience. Parents in this style

tend to apply strict control over their children by enforcing rules without their children input and

expect unquestioned obedience. This style of punishment is often employed as a way to maintain

order and there is little weight on warmth or emotional connection. While authoritarian parents

may have good intentions of instilling discipline and structure, they can easily become trapped in

controlling styles (Grolnick 2002 pg #). Their firm approach can lead to feelings of fear,

resentment, and rebellion in children, ;The lack of autonomy and emotional support may hold

back the development of healthy self-esteem in children in the long run.

III. Social Impact.

The social impact of the authoritative and authoritarian in children is significant and

extensive, influencing various aspects of their social development and interactions.

Authoritative parents try to give a supportive and structured environment to their children to

make their social skills develop in an effective way. This will make them excel in social

interactions by having empathy and good communication. Also, Parents who provided positive

affectivity, responded warmly to their toddlers, and acknowledged their toddlers’ autonomy

appeared to facilitate toddlers’ ability to become regulated and socially engaged (Grady 2019 pg

#). They develop a strong sense of self-esteem and confidence, allowing them to have better

control of social interactions and it contributes to their ability to function effectively within

societal norms.
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On the contrary, authoritarian parenting is characterized by Controlling parenting

practices, which involved coercion, threats, punishments, criticism. (Laurin et al, 2017) This will

impact the children’s social development in a negative way. In other words, children may

comply with rules out of fear rather than understanding, and it will affect their ability to express

themselves. Consequently, they may struggle to form positive social relationships, lacking

essential empathy and conflict resolution skills. Also, the constant criticism and high

expectations characteristic in authoritarian parenting can affect children's self-esteem and

confidence, potentially leading to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Overall, the

authoritarian approach can affect negative children's social growth, compromising their

emotional well-being and interpersonal skills in the long run.

IV. Cognitive development Impact

Authoritative parenting is characterized by warmth, responsiveness, and reasonable

control and it refers to empathy and respect for children’s own ideas, feelings, and initiatives

(Joussement et al 2014). In this parenting style, Parents will encourage problem-solving skills,

resulting in children learning to analyze situations and make informed decisions, promoting

independence and autonomy. Open communication between parents and children fosters strong

verbal abilities and critical thinking, enabling them to articulate their thoughts effectively. Also,

the emphasis on self-discipline and consistent enforcement of rules cultivates self-regulation,

enhancing cognitive functions such as attention and planning. In general, authoritative parenting

provides a supportive yet structured environment that empowers children to thrive cognitively

and excel in various aspects of their lives.

On the other hand, Authoritarian parenting, characterized by high levels of control, strict

rules, and low warmth, has notable impacts on children's cognitive development. While this
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parenting style may impart obedience and conformity, it can get in the way of critical thinking

and problem-solving abilities. It may hinder children’s opportunities to explore and make

decisions for themselves, which, in contrast to authoritative parenting, can impede the

development of independence and autonomy. Communication between parents and child tends to

be one-sided, limiting children's verbal skills and ability to engage in meaningful discussion.

This type of parenting offers a rigid set of rules and expectations that are strictly enforced and

require rigid obedience (Mahapatra et al. 2016), This application may affect the development of

self-regulation. This type of parenting leads to depression and social problems. Therefore, while

authoritarian parenting may produce obedient behavior in the short term, its long-term effects on

cognitive development could potentially affect children's ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in

diverse environments.

V. Conclusion.

In conclusion, parenting styles, principally authoritative and authoritarian, play a

fundamental role in shaping children's emotional, social, and cognitive development.

Authoritative parenting, characterized by warmth, clear boundaries, and nurturing, fosters

positive emotional regulation, healthy social interactions, and robust cognitive skills. It

encourages open communication, empathy, and independence, eventually raising confident and

adaptable individuals. In contrast, authoritarian parenting, emphasizing control and obedience

over warmth and understanding, can lead to negative emotional outcomes, affecting social

development, and cognitive development. Affecting their critical thinking and problem-solving

abilities. Understanding how parenting styles shape children's development gives a valuable

perspective on encouraging stronger parent-child bonds and raising strong individuals from early

stages of life.
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Work Cited

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Emotion Regulation Pathway to School-Age Internalizing Symptoms.” J Abnorm Child

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Gouveia, M. J., Carona, C., Canavarro, M. C., & Moreira, H. “Self-compassion and dispositional

mindfulness are associated with parenting styles and parenting stress: The mediating role

of mindful parenting”. Mindfulness, 7(3), 2016, 700-712.

doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0507-y

Grolnick, W.S. “The Psychology of Parental Control”, How Well-meant Parenting Backfires (1st

ed.). Psychology Press, 2002. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410606303

Jessica Stoltzfus Grady, “Parental gentle encouragement promotes shy toddlers’ regulation in

social contexts”, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Volume 186, 2019, Pages 83-

98, ISSN 0022-0965, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2019.05.008.

Joussemet, M., Mageau, G.A. & Koestner, R. “Promoting Optimal Parenting and Children’s

Mental Health: A Preliminary Evaluation of the How-to Parenting Program.” J Child Fam

Stud 23, 949–964 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9751-0

Laurin, J. C., & Joussemet, M. “Parental autonomy-supportive practices and toddlers’ rule

internalization: A prospective observational study.” Motivation and Emotion, 41(5), 2017,

562-575. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-017-9627-5