The way a child is brought up has a profound influence on their behavior and growth, as well as their general well-being. From what I have learned during my research and side lectures, it is not a secret that children’s mental health might face several challenges as a result of different parenting styles. As represented by the two inherently different ways of dealing with family affairs depicted by the Smith and Clark families, the authoritarian and authoritative parenting philosophies are perfectly illustrated.
The Smitts exemplify an authoritarian family. It is reflected in their adherence to the strongest discipline, though they demand absolute loyalty, upon which they do not compromise. The most well-known punitive measures, like torture and other non-nurturing punishments, are used to implement norms. This approach often focuses on accomplishments and constraints rather than learning and cultivation. Thus, the families of Clarks stand for a hard parenting approach, as it shows (Santrock, 2021). Aside from putting up boundaries and regulations to lessen its effect, they also allow openness and provide a space where people can talk freely. Family meetings help put forth the values that would bind the family together. The meetings also teach everybody about their individual and family contributions to personal relationships.
The narrowing of parents’ roles from constantly monitoring kids’ activities to simply setting the ground rules is a very good thing, which authors call authoritarian parenting. The Stith family is a great example. The class-named school structure of classrooms and schedules established in the military community could offer stability and delight, especially for kids with an affinity for routines (Chen et al., 2022). In the same vein, parents who adopt an authoritarian style of parenting may feel that their methods are effective by instilling discipline and deference to authority—traits that the parents regard as essential contributing factors to the overall success of a person in life. Despite all the advantages, this may not always be the ideal method. Fulfilling the child’s autonomy and individuality is often executed by compressing creativity and conformance to obedience and steadfastness. Brought up in places like this, the child may be dealing with a lack of skills while thinking critically and solving problems since these are usually the commands, not the decision options.
In contrast, the Clarks’ authoritative parenting establishes a cordial and all-encompassing environment and upholds order. This approach allows people to learn directions and offers help, but it also aims to develop autonomy and self-efficiency (Chen et al., 2022). The offspring raised in a family environment with majority rules learn to perform well in school, have better social skills, and even have higher self-esteem. Brown places this category closer to regulations and the growth of accountability than other categories.
Research has repeatedly shown that hammering children using spanking as a disciplinary method results in harmful consequences that tend to last for a long time. It might lead to instant yield, but worry is at the back of the mind for the long-term consequences. Findings and research have shown that kids who have received spankings are more likely to be aggressive, exhibit antisocial behavior, and have mental health issues (Chen et al., 2022). An action of physically crapping out your kid can make them scared, have some resentment feelings, or even be angry. These are feelings that cause a breakdown in the parent-child relationship.
On one hand, when a young boy or girl is spanked by their parent, their trust, which is very important for emotional development in a child, becomes weaker. What’s more, the kids could perceive themselves as the defenseless victims of this violence, undertaking the vicious cycle of hostilities (Avezum et al., 2023). Recent studies have reported the risks associated with the use of corporal punishment in disciplining children. In light of this, parents and other caregivers must find alternative ways of discipline that work to correct children’s behavior while safeguarding their mental health.
Likewise, different styles of discipline can be not only effective and empathetic but also undesirable and destructive to the child’s mental health and ability to sustain a parental connection. To demonstrate it, there is a moment when they are standing aside and collecting themselves, which allows them to think about how they behaved and learn how to control themselves. Instinctively, banning screen time or buddy walks can act as a suitable punishment for an uncaught act and, in turn, teach kids to think about the consequences of their actions (Avezum et al., 2023). Through cause and effect, children learn that they have a logical consequence for each mistake and are held accountable. The punishment is given for what they did or did not do. Meanwhile, kids are likely to make good decisions on their own as they receive positive feedback for their actions time after time, for example, from being praised verbally or through other gifts.
In conclusion, parenting philosophy influences children’s growth and health in a significant way. Nevertheless, while the Smith family’s authoritarian governing style may provide structure, it may not improve emotional growth or cut down on independence. However, the repeatedly authoritarian way the Clark parents depict how they do tender care lays grounds for self-reliance and self-control. Punishment by a slap can be an instant sign of the obedience of a child, provided they are going to be strong, but long-term consequences deteriorate the positive effect of these consequences.
References
Avezum, M. D. M. D. M., Altafim, E. R. P., & Linhares, M. B. M. (2023). Spanking and corporal punishment parenting practices and child development: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(5), 3094-3111.
Chen, W. W., Yang, X., & Jiao, Z. (2022). Authoritarian parenting, perfectionism, and academic procrastination. Educational Psychology, 42(9), 1145-1159.
Santrock. (2021). Essentials Of Life-Span Development. Mcgraw-Hill Education.
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