1.2 Parenting styles

Research on parenting identified three different types of parenting styles: 

• Authoritarian parents tend to set strict rules, expect unquestioning obedience, and punish harshly. 
• Permissive parents let their children have their way and generally do not impose consequences. 
• Authoritative parents clearly state their expectations, explain rules in an age-adequate manner, and they follow through with consistent consequences.

Studies from many different cultures have shown that children growing up with authoritative parents show the highest levels of self-esteem and social competence compared to other children. Children with authoritarian parents have fewer social skills and a poorer sense of self-esteem. Children from families with permissive parents tend to be the most aggressive and immature ones.