Layout 1

Marriage and Family Life: The ParentingYears

Indulgent

Parentswhoemploytheindulgent
parentingstyle,sometimesreferredtoas
permissiveornondirective,are“more
responsivethantheyaredemanding.They
arenontraditionalandlenient,donot
requirematurebehavior,allowconsiderable
self-regulation,andavoidconfrontation”
(Baumrind,1991,62).Stillusedbyparents
today,thiswasapopularstyleinthe1950s
followingWorldWarII.Perhapstheharsh
conditionsof thewaryears,setagainstthe
backdropof Nazicoercion,setthestagefor
thismorerelaxedstyleof parenting.
Indulgent parentsgivelittle
punishment,havefewguidelinesfor
behavior,providelittlestructure,andavoid

takingcharge.Parentsoften fear

that settinglimitsmay stiflea

child’snaturalcuriosity and

inclinations.Indulgent parents

generally fallintotwo

categories:democraticparents,

whoaremoreconscientious,

engaged,andcommittedtothe

child;andnondirectiveparents,

whoprovidelessdirection,are

lessavailable,andmay exhibit

disengagement with their

children.

Children who grow up in

indulgent homes tend to have

high self-esteem,good social

skills,and low levels of

depression.However,they may

behave irresponsibly,have little

ability to handle frustration,be

emotionally immature,perform at a lower

level in school,and frequently exhibit

behavior problems (Larzelere,1998).

Authoritative

Parents who use theauthoritative

parentingstylegenerally are demanding,

but not intrusive.“They monitor and

impart clear standards for their children’s

conduct”(Baumrind,1991,62).They

discipline their children,not by penalizing

or punishing them,but in a caring,loving,

supportive way.Discipline is seen as a

means to help the child learn to be self-

regulating and socially responsible.

Figure 7.1

Typology of Parenting Styles

Source:Maccoby and Martin 1983.

Uninvolved

Indulgent Authoritative

Authoritarian

High

Low

DEMANDINGNESS

Low High

R E S P O N S I V E N E S S