parenting style and onset of child psychopathology

PARENTING STYLE AND ONSET OF CHILD

PSYCHOPATHOLOGYPREPARED & PRESENTED

BY

RICHARD OPOKU ASARE

MPhil(UDS), MEd(UCC), BEd(Hons)(Health Sciences), RN (Dip)-RMN, Cert. Ed

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OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

INTRODUCTIONAUTHORITARIAN PARENTINGAUTHORITATIVE PARENTINGPERMISSIVE PARENTINGUNINVOLVED PARENTINGDETERMINING A DISCIOPLINE STRATEGY

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INTRODUCTION

Mental health of children depends on the way parents interact with them. Though every parent wishes to provide the best at home, they may not be giving the best to their children as no full proof method of bringing up children has been invented. This is because no two children are alike. There are more differences between children than we ordinarily believe.


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INTRODUCTION – CONT’D

Moreover, culture, society, gender of the child and a host of other factors interact with the upbringing of children.

There are four different styles of parenting depending on two factors. The factors are parental warmth and parental control.


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AUTHORITARIAN PARENTING (HIGH ON CONTROL, LOW ON

WARMTH )

Here, the child is expected to follow the rules – and failure leads to punishment, instead of consequences. There is no discussion or explanation related to why the rules exist, and no negotiation with children over rules. Instead, children are expected to obey, right away, and without questioning their parents. Children raised by authoritarian parents are typically compliant, reliable and are obedient and proficient.


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A U T H O R I TA R I A N PA R E N T I N G ( H I G H O N C O N T R O L , L O W O N WA R M T H )

However, some parents believe that being strict with children is the best way to make them good adults. In that process parents tend to become over strict. They forget that every child has a natural tendency to grow into freedom and autonomy. Children should become free, independent and autonomous.


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WARMTH )

A fully developed personality manifests freedom from unnecessary inhibitions. It also ensures high level of independence and autonomy. In the present competitive world a child should be self-confident. This is achieved only through parental support. [email protected]

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WARMTH )

In terms of personality

Over strictness kills the spirit of freedom. Children get the wrong idea that being free and independent is undesirable. In a situation where parents employ only strictness and control and no love, children lose their individuality and fail to take appropriate decisions in their life as the parents have always taken the decisions. Children of authoritarian parents do not become independent and develop severe anxiety under situations that demand decision-making. They often suffer from depression.


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WARMTH )

Sometimes children become hostile or aggressive as they may focus more on being angry at their parents for the punishment rather than learning how to make decisions and solve-problems. They tend to play secondary roles in all their activities, making them less socially competent with low self-esteem. Such children fail to become leaders. There is always the possibility that they feel inferior to others in all respects. In effect such children can never achieve the expected goals of life.


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AUTHORITATIVE PARENTING (HIGH ON CONTROL, HIGH ON

WARMTH )

The best parenting style is the one with good control and adequate love. Authoritative parents establish rules and guidelines for their children. Parents willingly provide explanations, listen to children’s questions, and occasionally negotiate a compromise. Thus, authoritative parents tend to use consequences, instead of punishments. Parents, over here, are less harsh, and more understanding and forgiving when children fail to meet their expectations. These parents do not set out to raise submissive, obedient [email protected]

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WARMTH)

Rather, they want their children to be responsible, appropriately assertive, self-regulating and co-operative individuals.

Parents in this category clearly differentiate the ‘child’ from his ‘actions’. They differentiate between the child as a person on the one hand and the child’s behaviors on the other hand. They also reward children for desirable behaviors and punish or withdraw rewards for undesirable actions. These parents are consistent in their behavior with children.


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WARMTH)

They do not confuse children by punishing them for one kind of behavior and rewarding them for the same behavior on a later date. Children understand consistency much easily than erratic behavior. By this the child gets the clear idea that parents disapprove one or two actions of him and do not outrightly reject him. This is very important as outright rejection by parents brings in the greatest [email protected]

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WARMTH)

Authoritative parents often tell children the reasons for the rules and they are more willing to consider a child’s feelings when setting limits. They use more of positive consequences to reinforce good behaviours and may be more willing to use reward systems and praise. The most important point here is that a child when punished for his behavior understands that parents still love him as a person. The opposite of this is an action from the parents that amounts to total rejection of the child.


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WARMTH)

Children raised with authoritative discipline tend to be happy and successful in life. They are often good at making decisions and evaluating safety risks on their own. They often grow up to be responsible adults who feel comfortable expressing their opinions. They are also generally, confident, capable, competent, and socially well-adjusted.


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WARMTH)


When a child feels that the parents reject him totally the child experiences intense loneliness and misery. This can lower the self-esteem of the child and drive him to self-mutilation, aggression and even suicide. That is to say children can also become severely depressed, as depression is aggression turned to oneself.


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PERMISSIVE PARENTING (LOW ON CONTROL, HIGH ON

WARMTH)

These are also described as indulgent parents. They make few demands on their children, rarely discipline their children, and don’t require their children to be responsible and self-controlled. They tend to be lenient and may only step in when there is a serious problem. They are often very high in nurturing and treat their children more like friends. They may encourage their children to talk with them about their problems but may not discourage a lot of bad behaviours.


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WARMTH)

Permissive parents show lots of love without exercising adequate control. In fact punishment of all types is avoided under the misconception that punishment is bad for the development of the child. Parents need to understand that children need proportionate punishment depending on their actions. Reward and punishment are the only two ways to make the child discriminate between what is right and what is wrong. Values of the culture are imbibed through the punishment and reward given by the parents. Children need to be punished if situation demands it.


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WARMTH)

The common fault is that on the one side many parents indulge in inconsistent punishment. A child is reprimanded for his wrong doings on one occasion and praised or ignored for the same action when it occurs again. This confuses the child and such behaviours by parents are objected to and should not be encouraged. On the other side parents do not punish or disagree with the child even if punishment is required. [email protected]

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WARMTH)

It is opined that parents can always punish or disagree with the action(s) or behaviour(s) of the child but should not disapprove the child as s/he is. The motto is accept and love the child but reject and punish the specific action of the child. This conveys to the child the feeling that parents do love him/her but disapproves the action or behaviour only.


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WARMTH)


Children raised by permissive parenting are often unhappy adults. They often have low self-esteem and may report a lot of sadness. They have poorer self-regulation and self-control, many experience problems with authority by not appreciating rules, and they tend to struggle academically by performing poorly in school, and then the work place. These children are likely to become spoiled and would manifest antisocial and criminal behaviour patterns.


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UNINVOLVED PARENTING (LOW ON CONTROL, LOW ON

WARMTH)

This type of parenting style is also called negligent parenting. Uninvolved parenting makes few demands, rarely communicates, and is generally unresponsiveness to the needs of their children. Uninvolved parents tend to be neglectful. Although the child’s essential needs are cared for, their emotional needs are neglected so the child often feels rejected and unloved.


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WARMTH)

Uninvolved parents often do not meet their children’s basic needs and may expect children to raise themselves, having little knowledge of what their children are doing. These parents may also lack knowledge about parenting and child development or may feel overwhelmed by life’s other problems. There tends to be few, if any, rules or expectations. Children may not receive any nurturing or guidance and they lack the much need parental attention.


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WARMTH)

We all need to appreciate the fact that children cannot grow in an emotional vacuum. If the parents do not show any love, life becomes barren to the child. Children are naturally emotional than rational. True development of personality is a harmonious blending of the rational and the emotional.


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WARMTH)

The art of this amalgamation takes place only if parents are able to show love and control in the right proportion. Children are creatures of instincts and circumstances. Thus they are basically impulsive. When parents control the behavior of children they come to understand that exercising control is absolutely necessary to have a smooth social [email protected]

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WARMTH)

So also children need to be loved. The hug of the mother when a child is under fear reassures the child. Body contact between the mother and the child is the first sure indicator of love to the child. As the child grows, words of reassurance would become sufficient. Needless to say that expression of love in some form is an absolute must for the healthy development of the child. It is obvious that love and control in the right proportion is the surest way to healthy development. In the absence of these, the personality of children gets distorted.


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WARMTH)


Children raised by uninvolved parents have the worst outcome – in all areas of life (emotional wellbeing, life satisfaction, success in relationship, success at school and work, etc.). Many lack self-control, the majority have low self-esteem, and they tend to be less competent in social and practical life situations. [email protected]

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WARMTH)

Emotionally deprived children cannot become good partners in their marital life as life between two individuals is successfully mediated through the emotion of love. When parents are uninvolved, children tend to perform poorly academically. They also exhibit frequent behaviour problems and rank low in happiness.


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DETERMINING A DISCIPLINE STRATEGY

Sometimes parents don’t fit into just one category. There may be times they are more authoritarian and times that they tend to be more authoritative and their discipline strategies may vary from child to child.


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DETERMINING A DISCIPLINE STRATEGY

When determining a discipline strategy, it is important to think about what it is that you want your child to learn. Effective discipline strategies can teach children to become responsible adults who are able to make healthy decisions on their own. Parenting without control and love is not desirable.


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END OF LECTURE

THANK YOU


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Morin, A. (2013). Learn how each parenting style impacts children. Available at http://discipline.about.com/od/typesofdiscipline/a/Types-Of-Discipline-Strategies-And-Parenting-Styles.htm (accessed September 05, 2013)

Plotnik, R. & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2010). Introduction to Psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

Sreedhar, K. P. (2013). Parenting and child mental health. Available athttp://www.psychology4all.com/parenting.htm (accessed September 05, 2013)


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AB OUT THE PRESENTER

Richard Opoku AsareMPhil (Comm. Health & Dev’t), UDS, Tamale, Ghana. MEd (Health Education), BEd (Hons)(Health Sciences), UCC, Cape Coast, Ghana.RN(Dip) RMN, NTC, Pantang, Accra, Ghana.Cert.Ed, Akrokerri College of Education, Ghana.Dean of students, College of Nursing, Ntotroso, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.Part-time lecturer (Mental Health Nursing) – SAHS, UDS, Tamale, Ghana. [email protected]

©2015

parenting style and onset of child psychopathology

Health & Medicine