Raising children is a complex and demanding task, representing one of the greatest challenges for anyone taking on this role (Sanfeliciano, 2019). While each child has a unique personality and faces particular situations, educational challenges often share certain patterns. As a result, various approaches have emerged to address these challenges, known as parenting styles. According to Sanfeliciano (2019), it’s important to recognize that not all forms of parenting contribute positively to the well-being of children.
The parenting style a caregiver chooses can significantly impact a child’s emotional, social, and behavioral development, leaving marks that will reflect throughout childhood and into adulthood (Corbin, n.d.). In alignment with Corbin (n.d.), by applying certain disciplinary strategies, caregivers not only shape how children respond to the world but also influence the relationship that forms between them, affecting the levels of trust, communication, and mutual respect that will develop between parents and children.
What are Parenting Styles?
Parenting styles, also known as parental styles, represent the strategies that caregivers use to raise and educate children, consolidating a psychological framework that guides this process (Mitjana, 2021). In other words, according to Mitjana (2021), parenting styles consist of a specific pattern of actions that caregivers apply in educating children, which includes not only visible behaviors but also emotions, attitudes, and thoughts.
History of Parenting Styles
The study of parenting styles was pioneered and extensively developed by psychologist Diana Baumrind in the early 1960s (Corbin, n.d.). In the early 1960s, Baumrind surveyed over 100 preschool children and interviewed their caregivers. Her research focused on four essential dimensions of parenting: warmth and nurturance, disciplinary strategies, communication styles, and expectations for maturity and control—all variables she considered fundamental to understanding the relationship between parenting styles and child development.
In 1966, Baumrind identified three distinct parenting styles based on her research findings: authoritarian, democratic, and permissive, which were published in her work Child Care Practices Anteceding Three Patterns of Preschool Behavior. According to her observations, each parenting style generated specific behavior patterns in children: those raised in an authoritarian environment, characterized by controlling and indifferent caregivers, tended to be distrustful and unhappy; conversely, children with warm but boundary-less caregivers appeared dependent; and children with demanding yet communicative caregivers tended to be self-reliant and happy. According to Corbin (n.d.), in 1983, researchers McCorby and Martin expanded Baumrind's theory by adding a fourth style: the indifferent or neglectful style.
Dimensions of Caregiver Behavior
In analyzing caregiver behavior, two essential dimensions are identified that significantly impact children’s emotional development: affection and communication, also known as parental responsiveness, and control and demands, referred to as parental control (Cajal, 2019; Sanfeliciano, 2019). Parental responsiveness is defined as the emotional support caregivers provide to their children (Sanfeliciano, 2019). This quality manifests when caregivers show openness toward their children's feelings, listen to them, and help resolve emotional conflicts. This dimension is essential, as its absence can leave the child alone to handle emotional issues. According to Sanfeliciano (2019), in extreme cases, this lack of support may lead to emotional disorders such as learned helplessness or childhood depression, profoundly impacting their well-being and development.
The second dimension, known as parental control, relates to the level of restriction or demands that caregivers place on their children (Cajal, 2019; Sanfeliciano, 2019). When applied consistently and flexibly, this control guides children toward constructive and safe behaviors (Sanfeliciano, 2019). The parenting style chosen by caregivers strongly influences their children's present and future development. High parental control can significantly limit a child’s freedom, with high demands for personal responsibility. Conversely, according to Sanfeliciano (2019), low parental control is associated with limited attention to children’s actions, implying a lack of responsibility, which also impacts their development and autonomy.
Parenting Styles
The combination of two main parenting dimensions, organized in high or low pairs, identifies four fundamental parenting styles (Sanfeliciano, 2019). However, this categorization is only a simplified theoretical model, as each parenting style is a prototypical category that does not capture the full complexity of parental behavior. While these parenting styles offer a useful framework for analyzing family development and its impact on children, it is essential to consider that real family dynamics exceed what these categories can describe. Therefore, according to Sanfeliciano (2019), it is necessary to apply this classification with caution and avoid absolute interpretations, as parental behavior and its influence on children’s development are subject to a wide range of contextual and personal factors.
| High Levels of Affection or Receptivity | Low Levels of Affection or Receptivity |
High Levels of Parental Control or Demands | Democratic style | Authoritarian style |
Low Levels of Parental Control or Demands | Permissive style | Indifferent or negligent style |
The authoritarian style is characterized by high parental control and low responsiveness (Sanfeliciano, 2019). This approach is based on strict discipline, where caregivers establish rules and expect children to follow them without exception (Corbin, n.d.). In this context, caregivers do not consider other parenting approaches beyond their own, limiting the autonomy of children (Guerri, 2021). This style of parenting has perpetuated expressions passed down through generations, even reflecting in popular culture (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, 2020). For instance, the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (2020) documents expressions like “here you do what I say” or “as long as you live in this house, you do what I say,” exemplifying the rigidity of this parenting style.
This approach is also known as the military parenting style, as it involves strict rules that promote obedience (Corbin, n.d.). Caregivers who adopt this approach tend to be controlling, providing little emotional support to their children and are prone to using severe punishments, threats, and even violence (Corbin, n.d.). Punishments are often disproportionate to the child's behavior, creating an environment where any infraction may lead to a severe punishment without considering the child’s perspective (Guerri, 2021). According to Corbin (n.d.), if a child breaks family rules, they are likely to receive a harsh punishment without the opportunity to explain their behavior.
While children raised in this environment may follow rules most of the time, they often face self-esteem issues, as their emotional needs are ignored (Corbin, n.d.). They may also develop hostile or aggressive behaviors since they do not learn effective decision-making or problem-solving skills. Finally, Corbin (n.d.) states that although some studies show that children raised under this style may achieve good academic results, they are at risk of developing poor social skills, making it a negative parenting style overall.
The permissive parenting style is characterized by low control and high responsiveness (Sanfeliciano, 2019). This approach may seem beneficial, as many caregivers believe it will allow their children to be happier (Corbin, n.d.). However, in the long term, this style can have serious emotional consequences. Caregivers who adopt a permissive approach try to protect their children from harmful experiences, do not establish clear behavioral norms, and show great tolerance (Corbin, n.d.). As a result, they become less demanding caregivers, imposing few rules and challenges on their children (Cajal, 2019). According to Cajal (2019), in the face of difficulties, these caregivers are likely to allow their children to give up easily and may ignore threats and punishments if they ever resort to such methods.
Communication in this parenting style is one-directional, meaning that caregivers consider the initiatives and arguments of their children, granting them considerable autonomy (Guerri, 2021). Moreover, they show interest in their children’s academic development and other areas of their lives, often allowing the children to dominate the situation (Guerri, 2021). Research indicates that children raised in permissive environments tend to perform poorly academically and face more behavioral issues (Corbin, n.d.). This is because they may disregard authority and neglect rules. Additionally, they often experience low self-esteem and feelings of sadness. Lastly, Corbin (n.d.) notes that they often become spoiled and demanding.
The neglectful parenting style is characterized by caregivers who exert neither control nor provide emotional support to their children (Sanfeliciano, 2019). These caregivers are minimally involved in the upbringing of their children, which means they do not provide the guidance or support necessary for proper development (Corbin, n.d.). Essentially, they give children complete freedom to make their own decisions, which can be harmful (Guerri, 2021). Similarly, according to Corbin (n.d.), these caregivers often display a lack of affection and discipline, neglecting the attention their children require.
Research has shown that this parenting style is highly damaging to young people, as caregivers’ behavior has a negative impact on the child’s present and future development (Corbin, n.d.). Neglectful caregivers put their children's emotional health and self-esteem at risk, potentially leading to severe psychological problems in various areas of their future lives, including interpersonal relationships and the workplace (Corbin, n.d.). Additionally, according to Sanfeliciano (2019), numerous studies have established a connection between this parenting style and high rates of juvenile delinquency, as well as hostility in children.
The democratic parenting style is characterized by a significant combination of affectivity and parental control (Sanfeliciano, 2019). This approach is considered one of the healthiest, as caregivers respond to the child’s needs and adjust demands to their developmental stage (Guerri, 2021). They also establish clear limits and rules, offering positive reinforcement when the child meets expectations and applying proportionate punishment when they deviate from them (Guerri, 2021). In other words, according to Corbin (n.d.), democratic caregivers set rules they want their children to follow but also recognize that there may be exceptions to these rules.
Furthermore, this parenting style involves caregivers explaining the consequences of their children's negative behavior rather than resorting to automatic punishments (Corbin, n.d.). They are also more inclined to use positive reinforcement to promote good behavior, showing a greater willingness to implement reward and praise systems compared to authoritarian caregivers. Research has shown that children raised under this parenting style tend to be happier and more successful in their future lives. According to Corbin (n.d.), these children develop decision-making skills and have higher self-esteem, enabling them to take on responsibilities and express their thoughts more comfortably as adults.
References
Cajal, A. (2019). Los 4 estilos de crianza educativos y sus características. Lifeder. Recuperado 4 de mayo de 2022, de https://www.lifeder.com/estilos-crianza/
Corbin, J. A. (s. f.). Los 4 estilos educativos: ¿cómo educas a tus hijos? Psicología y Mente. Recuperado 4 de mayo de 2022, de https://psicologiaymente.com/desarrollo/estilos-educativos
Guerri, M. (2021). Los cuatro estilos educativos: democrático, autoritario, permisivo e indiferente. PsicoActiva. Recuperado 4 de mayo de 2022, de https://www.psicoactiva.com/blog/los-cuatro-estilos-educativos-democratico-autoritario-permisivo-e-indiferente/
Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar. (2020). Estilos de Crianza. Recuperado 4 de mayo de 2022, de https://www.icbf.gov.co/mis-manos-te-ensenan/estilos-de-crianza
Mitjana, L. R. (2021). Los cuatro estilos de crianza y su impacto en el desarrollo de nuestros hijos. Bebés y Más. Recuperado 4 de mayo de 2022, de https://www.bebesymas.com/ser-padres/cuatro-estilos-crianza-su-impacto-desarrollo-nuestros-hijos
Sanfeliciano, A. (2019). Estilos de crianza: ¿cómo educamos a nuestros hijos? La Mente es Maravillosa. Recuperado 4 de mayo de 2022, de https://lamenteesmaravillosa.com/estilos-de-crianza-como-educamos-a-nuestros-hijos/
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