Parenting has four main styles: authoritarian,

authoritative, permissive (indulgent), and

detached. Although no parent is consistent in
all situations, parents do follow some general
tendencies in their approach to childrearing,
and it is possible to describe a parent-child
relationship by the prevailing style of
parenting. These descriptions provide
guidelines for both professionals and parents
interested in understanding how variations in
the parent-child relationship affect the child's
development.
 AUTHORITARIAN PARENTS
Authoritarian parents are rigid in their rules; they expect
absolute obedience from the child without any
questioning.
They also expect the child to accept the family beliefs
and principles without questions.
Authoritarian parents are strict disciplinarians, often
relying on physical punishment and the withdrawal of
affection to shape their child's behavior.
Children raised with this parenting style are often moody,
unhappy, fearful, and irritable. They tend to be shy,
withdrawn, and lack self-confidence. If affection is
withheld, the child commonly is rebellious and antisocial.
 AUTHORITATIVE PARENTS
 Authoritative parents show respect for the opinions of each of their
children by allowing them to be different. Although there are rules
in the household, the parents allow discussion if the children do not
understand or agree with the rules.
 These parents make it clear to the children that although they (the
parents) have final authority, some negotiation and compromise
may take place.
 Authoritative parents are both responsive and demanding; they are
firm, but they discipline with love and affection, rather than power,
and they are likely to explain rules and expectations to their
children instead of simply asserting them.
 This style of parenting often results in children who have high self-
esteem and are independent, inquisitive, happy, assertive, and
interactive.
 PERMISSIVE PARENTS
 Permissive (indulgent) parents have little or no control over the
behavior of their children. If any rules exist in the home, they are
followed inconsistently.
 Underlying reasons for rules are given, but the children decide
whether they will follow the rule and to what extent. They learn
that they can get away with any behavior.
 Indulgent parents are responsive but not especially demanding.
They have few expectations of their children and impose little or
inconsistent discipline.
 There are empty threats of punishment without setting limits. Role
reversal occurs; the children act more like the parents, and the
parents behave like the children.
Children of permissive parents may be
disrespectful, disobedient, aggressive,
irresponsible, and defiant. They are insecure
because they lack guidelines to direct their
behavior. However, these children are
frequently creative and spontaneous.
Although low in both social responsibility and
independence, they are usually more
cheerful than the conflicted and irritable
children of authoritarian parents.
 DISENGAGED PARENTS
Disengaged (detached) parents are
neither responsive nor demanding. They
may be careless or unaware of the child's
needs for affection and discipline.
Children whose parents are detached
have higher numbers of psychological
difficulties and behavior problems than
other youngsters.