This document compares and contrasts the authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles. Authoritative parenting involves setting clear rules and boundaries for children while also being warm, responsive, and allowing open communication. Authoritarian parenting is very strict and controlling, focusing on demanding obedience without explanation. Research shows children raised with authoritative parenting tend to have higher self-esteem, better social and academic outcomes compared to those raised by authoritarian parents. The document concludes that authoritative parenting strikes the best balance between discipline and nurturing autonomy in children.

1. Justine McDonald
Wanda Zimmerman
ENG 102 W10
3 Dec 2017
It is tough to be a parent: A comparison on
authoritative and authoritarian parenting
styles

2. Parenting is no easy task…
• Being a parent is one of the most difficult responsibilities most adults will
ever encounter, and doing a good job affects future generations, by
molding children into the adults they will become.
• There are four parenting styles recognized by most researchers and
clinicians; the most general two parenting styles, most frequently
discussed, are authoritative and authoritarian (“Authoritative Parenting -
Definition And Examples” ).
• Unfortunately, part of being a parent is providing discipline and
punishment, while attempting to avoid negative repercussions.
• Authoritative parenting is the most beneficial parenting style.

3. Parenting involves discipline and punishment…
• Punishment weakens negative responses and behaviors. Punishment such
as adding spankings to remove a desired behavior can be discouraged by
development specialists because it can escalate into abuse. Punishment by
removal, such as grounding or time-outs are considered more effective and
acceptable to child development specialists because it involves no physical
aggressions and avoids problems associated with aggressive punishments
(Ciccarelli and White 185).
• Severe punishment can cause a child to avoid the punisher instead of
removing the undesirable behavior, it may also encourage lying to avoid
punishment, or create fear and anxiety within the child. Hitting also
provides a successful model for aggression (187).

4. So, what are the main two parenting styles?
Authoritative
• Authoritative parenting
involves combining limits on
behavior with love, warmth,
affection, respect, and a
willingness to listen to a
child’s point of view.
Authoritarian
• Authoritarian parenting tends to be
overly concerned with rules. This
parenting style is rigid, stern,
controlling, uncompromising,
demanding, and often tends to use
physical punishment (Ciccarelli
and White 317).

5. A little more about authoritarian parenting…
• Authoritarian parents believe that children are by nature, strong-willed
and self-indulgent. They value obedience to a higher authority, and see
their primary job as that of bending the will of the child to that of
authority. A loving parent is viewed as one who breaks the will of the
child (Darling).
• Children who are raised in this manner are often insecure, timid,
withdrawn, and resentful. As teenagers the will often rebel against
parental authority in negative and self-destructive ways which may
include premarital sex, delinquency, and drug abuse (Ciccarelli and
White 317).

6. A little more about authoritative parenting…
• Authoritative parents are issue-oriented and pragmatic, rather than
motivated by an absolute standard. Expectations are adjusted to the needs of
the child. A child’s arguments are heard, which may not necessarily change
the parent’s mind. They persuade and explain as well as punish (Ciccarellie
and White 318).
• Boundaries and limits are clear and understandable to children and parents
allow children to give an explanation, and then agree on a right way to
handle the situation. Children raised in this manner tend to be more self-
reliant and independent (317).

7. A break down…
Authoritative
Allows autonomy
and independence
through the use of
reasoning to explain
rules
Consistent
discipline, Non-
punitive
Teach, not punish Behavioral control
Communication is
encouraged and
natural
consequences
Focuses on teaching
correct behavior
Authoritarian
Inconsistent or
arbitrary discipline
Focuses on
punishment
Behavioral and
psychological
control
One-way
communication and
children’s opinions
are not heard,
valued, or allowed
Total control over children. Their kids are
expected to obey parents without
question

8. These parenting styles differ…
•Authoritative parents feel more
democratic, and allow the child to
have some input in the formation of
rules while still maintaining the role
of a final decision maker as the
parents.

9. Authoritative parenting is most effective…
• Authoritarian parents exert control through power and coercion, they show
they have power because they exert their will over their children (Darling).
• Teaching a child to make the right decision for moral purpose is more
effective than attempting to scare or coerce a child into doing the right
thing, for fear of repercussion. There are situations in life that making the
wrong, illegal, or immoral choice may not be noticed. The right choice
must be made for more than fear of consequences.

10. Both parenting styles…
• Both parenting styles set high standards, each parenting styles achieves
this through different methods; however, unlike permissive parenting,
both are involved parents.
• Both styles have high expectations for their children, but the authoritative
parent encourages more freedom of expression.These children develop
into more competent adults than children raised with other parenting
styles (Rosenthal).

11. The results of both parenting styles..
Authoritative and
Authoritarian parenting styles
both result in…
• Children tend to be equally well behaved from both parenting styles.

12. Involved and consistent…
Authoritative parents tend to be stricter and more consistent than authoritarian parents, with fewer rules
but better enforcement (Darling).

13. Unfortunately, authoritarian parenting may
lead to…
• Depressed, low self-esteem
• Reliance to an unusual degree on the voice of authority
• Unhappy, insecure, and apprehensive
• Submissive, dependent, hostile and aggressive under pressure
• Non- affiliative with peers
• More mental issues such as depression, anxiety, and substance
abuse
• Lower school performance

14. A lack of balance…
• Authoritarian parents are very strict and controlling. They have a
strong need for justice and obedience.
• They are big believers in clearly stated rules, such parents take a
dim view on being challenged.
• Give and take with a child is discouraged (Darling).

15. Authoritative parenting may lead to children
who are…
• Happy and content
• High self-esteem and assertive
• Good emotional control, resilient
• Affirmative with peers
• Good mental Health
• High academic achievements, more active in school

16. Finding a balance..
• Authoritative parenting balances clear parental demands with
emotional responsiveness and recognition of the child’s need for
autonomy, which are consistent predictors of social competence.
These children typically do well in school, develop good social
skills, and avoid problems with behavior (Rosenthal).
• Research has found that the best-adjusted children often have
authoritative parents. They are responsive to their children’s
needs and have strong emotional control. Children are taught to
think critically about the reasons behind the rules, they speak
their mind and participate in decision making (“Authoritative
Parenting - Definition And Examples” ).

17. Authoritative parenting for the win!
• Authoritative parents retain authority and control more warmth
and better communication. They search for a balance between the
child’s desire for independence and the parent’s desire to be
heard and obeyed. These parents are both demanding, responsive,
and assertive, but not intrusive or restrictive. These parents
desire for their children to be both assertive and cooperative.

18. Works Cited
“Authoritative Parenting - Definition And Examples.” Parenting For
Brain, 28 Sept. 2017,
www.parentingforbrain.com/authoritative-parenting/.
Ciccarelli, Saundra K, and J Noland White. Psychology An
Exploration. Third ed., Pearson Education, 2015
Darling, Nancy. “Authoritative vs. Authoritarian Parenting Style.”
Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 18 Sept. 2014,
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/thinking-about-
kids/201409/authoritative-vs-authoritarian-parenting-style.
Rosenthal, Maryann. “Parenting Styles: What Works and What
Doesn’t Work”. The attached Family, The Attached Family, 4
Aug. 2009, theattachedfamily.com/membersonly/?p=2151.