Parenting Styles - Psychology Definition of the Week

Definition: Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents impact child development. During the early 1960s, psychologist Diana Baumrind conducted a study on more than 100 preschool-age children. Using naturalistic observation, parental interviews and other research methods, she identified four important dimensions of parenting:

• Disciplinary strategies
• Warmth and nurturance
• Communication styles
• Expectations of maturity and control

Based on these dimensions, Baumrind suggested that the majority of parents display one of three different parenting styles. Further research by also suggested the addition of a fourth parenting style. The four styles of parenting that have been described by researchers are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and uninvolved parenting. Learn more about parenting styles

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