Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

402 Chapter 
12 
Development
Study Alert
Know the four major types of 
child-rearing practices— 
authoritarian, permissive, 
authoritative, and 
uninvolved—and their 
eff ects.
them. In contrast,
 authoritative parents 
are fi rm and set limits for their children. 
As the children get older, these parents try to reason and explain things to them. 
They also set clear goals and encourage their children’s independence. Finally, 
 uninvolved parents 
show little interest in their children. Emotionally detached, 
they view parenting as nothing more than providing food, clothing, and shelter 
for children. At their most extreme, uninvolved parents are guilty of neglect, a 
form of child abuse (Baumrind, 2005; Winsler, Madigan, & Aquilino, 2005; Lagacé-
Séguin & d’Entremont, 2006).
As you might expect, the four kinds of child-rearing styles seem to produce very 
different kinds of behavior in children (with many exceptions, of course). Children 
of authoritarian parents tend to be unsociable, unfriendly, and relatively withdrawn. 
In contrast, permissive parents’ children show immaturity, moodiness, dependence, 
and low self-control. The children of authoritative parents fare best: With high social 
skills, they are likable, self-reliant, independent, and cooperative. Worst off are the 
children of uninvolved parents; they feel unloved and emotionally detached, and 
their physical and cognitive development are impeded (Saarni, 1999; Snyder, Cramer, 
& Afrank, 2005; Berk, 2005). 
Before we rush to congratulate authoritative parents and condemn authoritarian, 
permissive, and uninvolved ones, it is important to note that in many cases non-
authoritative parents also produce perfectly well-adjusted children. Moreover, children 
are born with a particular
 temperament 
—a basic, innate disposition. Some children 
are naturally easygoing and cheerful, whereas others are irritable and fussy or pen-
sive and quiet. The kind of temperament a baby is born with may in part bring about 
specifi c kinds of parental child-rearing styles (Majdandzic & van den Boom, 2007; 
Miner & Clarke-Stewart, 2008; Coplan, Reichel, & Rowan, 2009).
In addition, children vary considerably in their degree of resilience, the ability to 
overcome circumstances that place them at high risk for psychological or even phys-
ical harm. Highly resilient children have temperaments that evoke positive responses 
from caregivers. Such children display unusual social skills: outgoingness, intelli-
gence, and a feeling that they have control over their lives. In a sense, resilient chil-
dren try to shape their own environment rather than being victimized by it (Luthar, 
Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000; Deater-Deckard, Ivy, & Smith, 2005; Vellacott, 2007). (Also 
see PsychWork .)
Type of Behavior
Parenting Style 
Parent Behavior 
Produced in Child
Rigid, punitive, strict standards (example:
“If you don't clean your room, I‘m going 
to take away your iPod for good and 
ground you.”)
Lax, inconsistent, undemanding (example: 
“It might be good to clean your room, but
I guess it can wait.”)
Firm, sets limits and goals, uses reasoning, 
encourages independence (example: “You'll 
need to clean your room before we can 
go out to the restaurant. As soon as you 
finish, we’ll leave.”)
Detached emotionally, sees role only as 
providing food, clothing, and shelter 
(example: “I couldn’t care less if your room
is a pigsty.”)
Unsociable, unfriendly, withdrawn
Immature, moody, dependent, 
low self-control
Good social skills, likable, 
self-reliant, independent
Indifferent, rejecting behavior
Authoritarian
Permissive
Authoritative
Uninvolved