Explain At Least Two Roles Of Different Parenting Styles
Explain At Least Two 2 Roles That Different Parenting Styles Play In
Explain at least two (2) roles that different parenting styles play in shaping the overall behavior of children. Next, indicate the significant impacts that each role has in contributing to delinquent behavior among juveniles. Think about the following question: Should juvenile delinquents be removed from their home and parent(s) and placed in a foster home or group home if the child continues to commit criminal acts after repeated attempts at treatment and confinement? Based on this question, discuss your thoughts on this subject. Provide support for your response.
Paper For Above instruction
Effective parenting styles are essential in shaping a child's behavior and development, influencing outcomes ranging from emotional well-being to delinquent tendencies. Different parenting approaches—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful—play pivotal roles in shaping children's social, emotional, and behavioral trajectories. This paper explores two fundamental roles that these parenting styles fulfill in child development and discusses their impacts on juvenile delinquency, alongside a reflection on whether juvenile offenders should be removed from their homes in certain circumstances.
The first role of parenting styles is in fostering normative behavioral development, which directly influences how children learn to regulate their impulses and conform to societal expectations. Authoritative parenting, characterized by warmth, responsiveness, and firm but fair discipline, is linked to positive behavioral outcomes (Baumrind, 1991). Children raised in such environments tend to develop self-control, social competence, and moral reasoning, reducing the likelihood of delinquency (Lamborn, Mounts, Steinberg, & Dornbusch, 1991). Conversely, authoritarian parenting, which emphasizes strict discipline and high expectations with less warmth, may suppress impulsivity temporarily but often hampers the child's emotional development and problem-solving skills, potentially fostering rebellious or aggressive behaviors that contribute to delinquency over time (Baumrind, 1966). Permissive parenting, on the other hand, with its leniency and lack of boundaries, can result in children lacking discipline and impulse control, increasing susceptibility to delinquent acts due to inadequate social regulation (Kochanska, 1997).
The second role pertains to the emotional security and attachment patterns established through parenting. Secure attachment, fostered mainly by responsive and consistent parenting styles such as the authoritative approach, provides children with a stable emotional foundation. This foundation facilitates resilience, empathy, and responsible decision-making (Ainsworth et al., 1978). In contrast, neglectful or inconsistent parenting can lead to attachment insecurities, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties in social interactions. Such issues may predispose juveniles to feel disconnected, angry, or resentful, increasing the risk of engaging in delinquent behaviors as a form of seeking validation or expressing unmet emotional needs (Miller, 2002).
These roles of parenting styles significantly impact juvenile delinquency. Children raised in authoritative homes are generally less prone to delinquent behavior due to better emotional regulation, moral development, and social competence. Conversely, those subjected to neglectful or authoritarian parenting may experience difficulties in impulse control and social adaptation, raising their likelihood of engaging in criminal acts. The permissive style's lack of boundaries can also foster impulsivity and defiance, leading to delinquency. These links suggest that parenting practices are critical determinants in the developmental pathways leading to or away from juvenile offending.
The question of whether juvenile offenders should be removed from their homes if they persist in criminal behavior after multiple interventions is complex. On one hand, removing juveniles from detrimental family environments could provide a safer, more structured setting to promote rehabilitation. Foster or group homes often offer specialized supervision, therapy, and educational programs designed to address behavioral issues (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2019). On the other hand, removal from the family context may sever essential emotional bonds and fail to address underlying familial or community factors contributing to delinquency. Additionally, persistent criminal behavior may reflect broader social and environmental influences that cannot be solely mitigated by removal.
Empirical evidence suggests that intervention strategies emphasizing family involvement and parental training are effective in reducing juvenile recidivism (Loeber & Stouthamer-Loeber, 1998). Therefore, rather than defaulting to removal, an integrated approach that combines family-based interventions with secure placement when necessary appears most beneficial. Removing juveniles should be considered a last resort, especially after exhaustive efforts to improve familial conditions and provide community support.
In conclusion, parenting styles significantly shape children’s behavioral development and their propensity toward delinquency. Authoritative parenting fosters positive behaviors and resilience, whereas neglectful, authoritarian, and permissive styles may increase delinquent tendencies. Decisions regarding removing juvenile offenders from their homes must weigh the potential benefits of safety and structured intervention against the importance of family bonds and addressing root causes. A balanced, evidence-based approach prioritizes comprehensive family support and community resources to promote juvenile rehabilitation effectively.
References
- Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the Strange Situation. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Baumrind, D. (1966). Effects of authoritative parental control on child behavior. Child Development, 37(4), 887–906.
- Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11(1), 56–95.
- Hockenberry, J., & Puzzanchera, C. (2019). Juvenile Court Statistics 2017. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
- Kochanska, G. (1997). Multiple pathways to conscience for children with secure and insecure attachments. Child Development, 68(2), 350–363.
- Lamborn, S. D., Mounts, N. S., Steinberg, L., & Dornbusch, S. M. (1991). Patterns of competence and adjustment among adolescents from authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and neglectful families. Child Development, 62(5), 1049–1065.
- Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (1998). Risk and protective factors for delinquency. Psychological Bulletin, 124(1), 57–102.
- Miller, S. (2002). Developmental pathways connecting childhood trauma and juvenile delinquency. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 7(2), 74–79.
- Vernon, L., & Cecile, R. (2014). Family influences on juvenile delinquency. Current Psychiatry Reports, 16(10), 1-8.
- Wald, M. S. (Ed.). (2010). Reducing juvenile violence: A review of programs and policies. National Academy of Sciences.