Authoritarian caregivers were seen as the necessary norm in a family decades ago (Sanchis, 2020). However, from various behavioral scientific disciplines, such as psychology, these educational styles have been shown to be disruptive parental patterns for the development of children in most cases. According to Sanchis (2020), the consequences of this type of parenting on children are negative, both in terms of physical, psychological, cognitive and emotional development.
Characteristics of Authoritarian Families
Order
The main characteristic of authoritarian families is "order" (Cajal, 2019). According to Cajal (2019), authoritarianism is based on controlling the entire nuclear family to maintain order and stability of the family structure.
Vertical Structure
The family structure establishes verticality and unidirectionality, that is, it is governed by hierarchies (Cajal, 2019; Núñez, 2021). According to Cajal (2019), in traditional family nuclei, the father is the one who has the highest hierarchy, therefore, he is the one who establishes the rules of the family nucleus and imposes punishments on those who do not comply with them.
The mother is the next in command (Cajal, 2019). However, psychological studies show that the mother tends to be more flexible than the father. According to Cajal (2019), this is because the authoritarian system generates rejection from sons and daughters towards their caregivers; so the mother, in an attempt to retain the affection of the children, tends to be more permissive.
Finally, sons and daughters are next in line, where the eldest is the one who must control and care for their younger siblings (Cajal, 2019). Generally, in correspondence with Cajal (2019), the eldest son, especially if he is male, is the one who receives more burden and is educated to be the next in command.
Little Flexibility
The authoritarian educational style is characterized by excessive surveillance, intervention, imposition and recording of everything children do (Navarro, 2020). According to Navarro (2020), caregivers who subject their sons or daughters to such rigorous parenting are always attentive to their behavior, decisions, and life in general.
On the other hand, authoritarian families do not allow the development of human culture, since, it is considered detrimental to the family nucleus (Cajal, 2019). Therefore, according to Cajal (2019), children, in the future, will only be able to develop in social and economic environments where exploitation or domination are the fundamental basis.
Possible Abuse
In correspondence with Sanchis (2020), added to the fact that they usually have poor emotional management skills, authoritarian caregivers consider physical punishment and verbal violence as necessary and "logical" means to impose their limits.
Consequences of the Authoritarian Style
The challenge for all parents is to exercise positive authority over their children so that they grow up happy, self-confident, curious, independent, respectful, among others (Quicios, 2021). The problem, according to Quicios (2021), is that many times when seeking this authority, the figure of the authoritarian parent of other times is reached and the opposite effect is provoked.
Insecurity
Children who have been raised in authoritarian environments are insecure and anxious, not having parental rules and controls, they do not know how to act when faced with situations that arise (Pizzolante, 2018). They become very distressed when they do things that do not coincide with what their parents want, so it is very difficult for them to develop their own speech and desires. It is the parents who set the tone in everything they do or think, so as they grow up and the outside forces them to make decisions, they feel overwhelmed and very afraid (Pizzolante, 2018). In short, according to Quicios (2021), the high expectations that caregivers have of their sons or daughters cause excessive nervousness, discomfort and even anxiety in children, caused by always wanting to satisfy their caregivers.
Low Self-esteem
In correspondence with Quicios (2021), this insecurity generated by the high expectations caregivers have, causes children to grow up with a poor self-concept.
Poor Emotional Intelligence
Children do not learn to manage their emotions (Quicios, 2021). Many of these children grow up with a lot of anger towards their caregivers, anger that has been repressed throughout their lives (Pizzolante, 2018). At the same time, however, they are afraid to feel that anger toward their caregivers because of the retaliation they might face. When this anger finally manifests itself, it usually turns into aggressiveness, in very intense outbursts. Corresponding with Pizzolante (2018), the confrontation that occurs during adolescence between sons and daughters and caregivers is usually much more intense when the caregivers are authoritarian.
Poor Decision Making
This parenting style does not encourage autonomy, nor the ability to choose according to one's own desires and criteria, but rather applauds obedience and "not causing trouble" (Pizzolante, 2018). Consequently, children do not have autonomy to be able to choose what they want to do and must comply with the goals that parents have set for them (Quicios, 2021). Therefore, according to Quicios (2021), they do not have the opportunity to be independent and to learn the skills that allow them to resolve their own conflicts.
Discomfort and Illness
Corresponding with Quicios (2021), being under pressure from overly demanding parents every day can cause children to have low defenses and be exposed to illness, and even depression.
Lack of Social Competencies
Communication between caregivers and children is not encouraged, i.e., the exchange or dialogue between both parties is very poor (Pizzolante, 2018). Children do not feel listened to, which has the consequence that later on, especially in adolescence, they lie or hide things from their caregivers, or do not feel safe to tell them what is happening to them (Pizzolante, 2018). Corresponding with Quicios (2021), this results in children not developing the social skills necessary to relate to other people.
References
Cajal, A. (2019). Familia Autoritaria y sus Características. Lifeder. Recuperado 22 de agosto de 2022, de https://www.lifeder.com/familia-autoritaria/
Navarro, A. (2020). Padres autoritarios. Un mal que necesita erradicarse. Eres Mamá. Recuperado 22 de agosto de 2022, de https://eresmama.com/padres-autoritarios-mal-necesita-erradicarse/
Núñez, A. (2021). Estilo de crianza autoritario: características y posibles efectos en los hijos. Mejor con Salud. Recuperado 22 de agosto de 2022, de https://mejorconsalud.as.com/estilo-crianza-autoritario/
Quicios, B. (2021). Padres autoritarios con sus hijos. Guiainfantil.com. Recuperado 22 de agosto de 2022, de https://www.guiainfantil.com/articulos/educacion/padres-autoritarios-con-sus-hijos/
Sanchis, S. (2020). Padres autoritarios: características y consecuencias para sus hijos. parabebes.com. Recuperado 22 de agosto de 2022, de https://www.parabebes.com/padres-autoritarios-caracteristicas-y-consecuencias-para-sus-hijos-4816.html
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