Developmental - Week 8

Bronfenbrenner’s Integrative Ecological Systems Theory

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystem

Chronosystem

Belsky’s (1984) Determinants of Parenting Model

1) Parent characteristics

2) Child characteristics

3) Contextual factors

Predictors of Positive Parenting: Heinickle, 2002 → Personality Characteristics

1) Adaptation-competence/Ego Strength

• Efficient, non-anxious, persistent, flexible approach to problem solving

• Psychological maturity

2) Capacity for sustained relationships

• Empathy, positive mutuality, perspective taking, quality of partner relationship, support networks

3) Self-development (maturity)

• Autonomy and confidence vs. insecurity

Predictors of Positive Parenting: Minnesota Longitudinal Study → Individual’s Level of personality integration – Maturity?

• Ability of parent to recognise/reflect on own psychological needs and processes

• Ability to perceive psychological needs and processes in others

• Ability to integrate the two competing agendas

Predictors of Positive Parenting: Intergenerational Attachment studies → Working model of attachment predicts security of attachment of offspring → Moderate effect size

Characteristics of an adult secure/autonomous state of mind regarding attachment

• Flexibility (non defensive thinking; open)

• Capacity for perspective taking

• Autonomy

Parenting/Childrearing Styles (Baumrind, 1967; 1991; 2013)

1) Parental Warmth/Responsiveness

2) Parental Demandingness/Control

Parental Warmth/Responsiveness

• Warm and involved caretaking

• Expressed concern for child’s well-being

• Clarity and inclusiveness of communication

• Expressed pleasure in child’s accomplishments → “delight in me”

Parental Demandingness/Control

• Discipline and regulation of behaviour in accord with parental standards

• Maturity Demands – age appropriate?

Baumrind’s Parenting Typologies

1. Authoritative

2. Permissive

3. Authoritarian

4. Uninvolved/Neglectful

Authoritative

High Warmth/Responsiveness

High Demandingness/Control

Authoritarian

Low Warmth

High Control

Permissive

High Warmth

Low Control

Uninvolved/Neglectful

Low warmth

Low Control

Expansion of Baumrind’s Parenting Typologies (Maccoby & Martin, 1983)

Child Outcomes → Authoritative

• Positive self-esteem

• High adaptability

• High competence (especially for boys)

• Internalised locus of control

• Self-reliant, self-regulated (Amato & Fowler, 2002)

• Popularity with peers

• Low levels of anti-social behaviour

• Altruistic

Child Outcomes → Authoritarian

• Children have little control over environment

  • Fearful of asserting themselves

  • Unhappy, conflicted, neurotic behaviour common in children

  • Low self-esteem (Babour et al., 2016)

  • External locus of control

  • Low scores on measures of conscience – i.e., don’t internalise standards, poor self-regulation

  • More negative long term outcomes for boys (who may become hostile) than girls

Child Outcomes → Permissive

• Uncontrolled, impulsive

• Demanding, dependent (Baumrind, 1997l; Querido et al., 2002)

• In adolescence, disengaged from school, involved in drug and alcohol use, school misconduct, early sexual activity

• Strongly oriented towards peers

BUT

• May feel close to parents

• May have high social competence/self-confidence

• Role reversal reactions

Child Outcomes → Neglectful/Uninvolved

• Compromised child competence, self-perceptions, behaviour, psychological distress

  • Disruptions in attachment – Disorganised “D” Pattern (? Role reversal)

  • Poor self control – impulsivity, aggression, non-compliance

  • Low self-esteem

  • Poor peer relationships

  • In adolescence, more severe delinquency

What is Tiger Parenting?

Chua (2011)

• Highly controlling, authoritarian

• Assumes child strength– little concern with self-esteem

• Parent knows best and over-rides to achieve desired outcome