The 4 Styles of Parenting: Part 3 Neglectful & Authoritative

Last week’s blog was about Dr. Diane Baumrind’s 4 Parenting Styles with a focus on Authoritarian. This week, the focus is on the Neglectful  and the Authoritative style. 

Neglectful: This style was not one of 3 original styles - Authoritarian, Permissive and Authoritative. It was described by researchers in Baumrind’s lab in the 1980’s. Neglectful parenting is characterized by low demandingness and low responsiveness. In neglectful families, children experience either low demand or no demands and low warmth. There are many negative impacts for children raised in these families including mental health issues, lowered cognitive development, behavior issues and stunted growth. 

Authoritative:  Parents who follow this parenting style are often called warm-demanders.  They have both high expectations and high responsiveness. In addition, these families are often characterized by mutual respect.

Authoritative parenting is a parenting style that emphasizes communication, warmth, and positive reinforcement, while also setting clear expectations and boundaries for children. It is often considered to be one of the most effective parenting styles because it promotes healthy development in children and fosters a positive relationship between parent and child.

Authoritative parents are warm and responsive to their children's needs, while also holding high expectations for their behavior and achievements. They encourage their children to be independent and self-regulating, but also provide guidance and support when necessary. Authoritative parents use positive reinforcement, such as praise and rewards, to reinforce good behavior and discourage negative behavior.

Authoritative parenting has been shown to have many benefits for children, including higher self-esteem, better academic performance, and lower rates of behavioral problems. It also helps children develop strong social skills and fosters a positive relationship between parent and child.

Overall, the authoritative parenting style emphasizes a balance between parental control and responsiveness, and promotes healthy development and positive relationships between parents and children.