Parenting types Once children become mobile, parents need to direct their children's behaviour. Introduction into rules and sanctions. Do all parents do this in the same way? No. Baumrind: 2 dimensions of parenting

Parenting types 1. Nurturance 2 dimensions of parenting

Parenting types 1. Nurturance Parents high (low) in Nurturance are warm (cold) and emotionally attuned (unattuned) to their children 2 dimensions of parenting

Parenting types 1. Nurturance Parents high (low) in Nurturance are warm (cold) and emotionally attuned (unattuned) to their children 2. Control 2 dimensions of parenting

Parenting types 1. Nurturance Parents high (low) in Nurturance are warm (cold) and emotionally attuned (unattuned) to their children 2. Control Does the parent demand compliance? How? Reasoned compliance vs power assertion 2 dimensions of parenting

Parenting types 1. Nurturance Parents high (low) in Nurturance are warm (cold) and emotionally attuned (unattuned) to their children 2. Control Does the parent demand compliance? How? Reasoned compliance vs power assertion 2 dimensions of parenting 4 Parenting Types

Baumrind’s 4 Parenting Types Control Nurturance High Low High Low

Baumrind’s 4 Parenting Types Control Nurturance High Low Authoritative Demanding but responsive. Reasoned compliance. Consider child's perspective. Clear demands. High Low

Baumrind’s 4 Parenting Types Control Nurturance High Low Authoritative Demanding but responsive Reasoned compliance Consider child's perspective Clear demands High Low Authoritarian Demanding but unresponsive Forced compliance. Consider own perspective. Clear demands.

Baumrind’s 4 Parenting Types Control Nurturance High Low Authoritative Demanding but responsive Reasoned compliance Consider child's perspective Clear demands High Low Authoritarian Demanding but unresponsive Forced compliance. Consider own perspective. Clear demands. Permissive Responsive but undemanding Consider child's perspective Few demands/ Feel powerless Low self-esteem

Baumrind’s 4 Parenting Types Control Nurturance High Low Authoritative Demanding but responsive Reasoned compliance Consider child's perspective Clear demands High Low Authoritarian Demanding but unresponsive Forced compliance. Consider own perspective. Clear demands. Permissive Responsive but undemanding Consider child's perspective Few demands/ Feel powerless Low self-esteem Uninvolved Unresponsive & undemanding Neglectful

Are parenting types associated with certain child outcomes? Yes

Children of authoritative parents Understand and accept social rules (1) sociable (2) self-regulating (3) positive affect (4) strong self-concept

Children of authoritarian parents Social rules understood but not internalized. (1) situational compliance (2) poor emotional functioning: withdrawn (3) poor social functioning: lack of spontaneity

Children of permissive parents (1) poor impulse control (2) poor compliance (3) low achievement motivation

Children of uninvolved parents Widespread developmental delay

Parenting Types Summary: According to Baumrind, 4 distinct classes of parenting styles. Each associated with different child outcomes

Parenting Types Summary: According to Baumrind, 4 distinct classes of parenting styles. Each associated with different child outcomes Criticism: Can things be so simple? Do parents differ categorically?

Parental Cognitions Parental behaviour shaped by thoughts Example: Child acts up at dinner. Attributions? Is the child trying to be bad? Need to make observations Goals? Resolve dispute quickly?  Power assertion Teach child values?  Reasoning

Parental Cognitions Advantage over typologies? Continuous vs categorical variables. Greater range of variation between parents Greater contextual sensitivity  Allows for within- parent variability More powerful statistical procedures

Punishment Common response to child misconduct Administration of an aversive stimulus or removal of a positive stimulus Often includes hitting/spanking  Straus & Gelles (1986) found 90% of parents of 3- and 4-year-old children reported using corporal punishment in the last year What is the effect of punishment?

Punishment Can help to reduce unwanted behaviours in the short run Effectiveness depends on: Timing (must follow soon after transgression) Rationale? However, corporal punishment can have lasting negative emotional and behavioural consequences.

Punishment Corporal punishment: lasting negative long-term consequences Olweus: higher aggression esp for boys Modeling aggression In the absence of positive attention, can actually reinforce negative behaviours Children withdraw  parent has less opportunity to socialize children in other ways

Fathers Traditionally, play a secondary role in infant care and child-rearing. New & Benigni, 1987  investigated parenting in rural Italy Fathers not birth No physical caregiving Infant-directed behaviours from a distance Less involved as child grew older Why?

Fathers Traditionally, play a secondary role in infant care and child-rearing. New & Benigni, 1987  investigated parenting in rural Italy Fathers not birth No physical caregiving Infant-directed behaviours from a distance Less involved as child grew older Why? Traditional beliefs 1.Only women capable of emotional care 2.Fathers provide financial support 3.Only women have the skills

Fathers Do traditional roles have any biological foundation? Frodi et al., 1978  Compared mothers’ and fathers’ physiological reaction to quiet, smiling, or crying infants Similar changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance

Fathers Do traditional roles have any behavioural foundation? Parke & O’Leary  Compared mothers’ and fathers’ behaviours toward their newborn Fathers just as likely to hold, touch, and vocalize to their infants

Fathers Traditional family roles not “set in stone” In fact, fathers in some countries increasingly involved in parenting Progressive social policy (e.g.,Sweden) Fathers entitled to 2 years paternity leave Reduced workday until child 8-years-old Changing social roles (e.g., USA) Fathers assume primary care-giving role in 20% of double-income families

Fathers Still, change is slow; fathers still spend only 33% of the time that mothers spend with children Why? 1. Little experience, lack of confidence in skills 2. Mothers  Only 23% of employed mothers say they want more childcare help from fathers; traditional roles hard to relinquish

Fathers Do mothers and fathers provide different kinds of child-care? Yogman et al., 1977  Compared how mothers and fathers interact face-to-face with their infants Fathers: interact in abrupt bursts Mothers: rhythmic and soothing

Fathers Do mothers and fathers provide different kinds of child-care?

Fathers Do mothers and fathers provide different kinds of child-care? Lamb, 1997  Compared mothers’ and fathers’ play Fathers engage in more physical and unpredictable play (e.g., throwing, tickling, etc) Mothers engage in calmer more co-operative play

Fathers Do mothers and fathers provide different kinds of child-care? Lamb, 1997  Compared mothers’ and fathers’ play Fathers engage in more physical and unpredictable play (e.g., throwing, tickling, etc) Mothers engage in calmer more co-operative play Consequence Infants seek out fathers for play; mothers for comfort

Fathers Role of father underscored by the effect of the “absentee father” Biller, 1974  Father absence has a large effect, esp for boys (gender role, aggression, academic achievement) Why?

Fathers 1. Father provides “identity figure” 2. Loss of financial and emotional support for entire family & boys more vulnerable to stress 3. Today, fathers thought to make a general contribution to broad family dynamics

Summary Parents an important socializing force in development Considerable variability in parenting styles Some of this variability may derive from parents’ own childhood experiences Mothers and fathers play complimentary parenting roles