Families and their influence on behaviour

Socialisation Families perform the child’s primary socialisation before they venture into the world and secondary socialisation processes occur. Throughout childhood they remain the interface between the child and the world, framing them with their values and beliefs and fundamentally influencing the adult they will become.

What is socialisation? What sort of behaviours would your family expect or see as important? Think of behaviour, attitudes and skills. Mealtimes Hygiene Gender appropriate behaviour Treatment of senior members Religious observance Work ethics Attitude to education

Ecological systems perspective Bronfrenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Perspective

Different family structures List as many as you can……. Think of these across time and cultures and how the structure may affect the socialisation process

Parenting Styles:health warning This topic can affect us all! Cause-and-effect links between specific actions of parents and later behaviour of children is very difficult to prove. Some children raised in dramatically different environments can later grow up to have remarkably similar personalities. Conversely, children who share a home can grow up to have astonishingly different personalities to each other.

Parenting Styles Psychologist Diana Baumrind conducted a study on more than 100 preschool-age children (Baumrind, 1967). Using naturalistic observations, parental interviews and other research methods, she identified four important dimensions of parenting: Disciplinary strategies Warmth and nurturance Communication styles Expectations of maturity and control

Baumrind Based on these dimensions, Baumrind suggested that the majority of parents display one of three different parenting styles. Further research suggested the addition of a fourth parenting style (Maccoby & Martin, 1983).

Authoritarian Parenting Children expected to follow strict rules established by the parents. Failure to follow them usually results in punishment. Authoritarian parents fail to explain the reasoning behind these rules. If asked to explain, the parent might simply reply, "Because I said so." They have high demands, but are not responsive to their children. According to Baumrind, these parents "are obedience- and status-oriented, and expect their orders to be obeyed without explanation" (1991).

Authoritative Parenting Authoritative parents establish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this style is much more democratic. They are responsive to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet expectations, these parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Baumrind suggests that these parents "monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative" (1991).

Permissive Parenting Permissive parents, sometimes referred to as indulgent parents, have very few demands to make of their children. They rarely discipline their children because they have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control. According to Baumrind, permissive parents "are more responsive than they are demanding. They are nontraditional and lenient, do not require mature behaviour, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation" (1991). Permissive parents are generally nurturing and communicative with their children, often taking on the status of a friend more than that of a parent.

Uninvolved Parenting An uninvolved parenting style is characterised by few demands, low responsiveness and little communication. While these parents fulfil the child's basic needs, they are generally detached from their child's life. In extreme cases, these parents may even reject or neglect the needs of their children.

Emotionality Authoritative Authoritarian Permissive Uninvolved Control Warm, responsive Rejecting, unresponsive Restrictive, demanding Authoritative Authoritarian Permissive, undemanding Permissive Uninvolved Control

Links with children’s behaviour Try to match the child with the parental style Conflicted-irritable child Energetic-friendly child Neglected child Impulsive aggressive child

Other issues affecting behaviour Peers: pressure and showing off Internal consistency of parents The input of school Extended family etc.etc.etc. Task: DISCUSS these issues

BOBO DOLL Experiment http://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html