Parenting (Developmental Psychology)

Question 1

Parenting

Answer 1

explores the various aspects of raising children, including parenting styles, their impact on children’s development, and the psychological factors involved in parenting

Question 2

What is Parenting in Developmental Psychology?

Answer 2

Examines how different parenting styles affect emotional, cognitive, and social development.

Question 3

Baumrind’s Parenting Styles (1967)

Answer 3

Overview:
Authoritative: high demand, high responsiveness - high confidence, social skills

Authoritarian: , anxious obedient high demands, low control

Permissive: low demands, high responsiveness - negative, impulsive

Key Study:
Baumrind (1967) observed preschoolers: authoritative parenting linked with better social competence.

Question 4

Criticism to Baumrind’s Parenting Styles (1967)

Answer 4

1. Cultural Bias:
   Developed in the US, Baumrind’s model reflects Western, individualistic values (independence, self-expression).
   -idea of authoritative parenting being universally ‘best’ may not hold true in other cultural contexts

➝ Chao (1994) argued that in Chinese families, authoritarian parenting (strictness) is often combined with warmth and leads to positive outcomes like academic success.

2. Oversimplification:
   Categorising parenting into 3 styles later adding fourth (‘neglectful’) but human behaviour and parenting = complex and more situational
   Parents can adjust their style based on context or child temperament.

Maccoby & Martin (1983): Expanded Baumrind model by adding fourth sales - oversimplification

3. Correlation, Not Causation:
   Most parenting styles = correlational, meaning it shows relationship but not causation
   Bell 1968

Question 5

Criticism to Baumrind

Darling & Steinberg (1993)

Answer 5

Darling & Steinberg (1993) argued parenting style effects are moderated by culture and child temperament.

Question 6

Attachment Theory — Bowlby (1969)

Answer 6

Early attachments influence later emotional and social outcomes. Disruption leads to maladjustment.
Monotropy: The idea that one primary attachment (usually the mother) is more important than others.

Critical Period: Attachment must form within the first 2–3 years of life (ideally 6–12 months) or risk long-term emotional and social difficulties.

Internal Working Model: The child’s relationship with their mother forms a mental blueprint for future relationships.
Key Study:
Ainsworth (1978) Strange Situation identified secure, avoidant, ambivalent attachments.

Question 7

Criticism for Attachment theory

Answer 7

1. Overemphasis on Mother:
   Bowlby focused mainly on the mother-child bond, underestimating the role of fathers and other caregivers.
   ➝ Lamb (1977) found that fathers play an important, though different, role in attachment.
2. Determinism:
   Suggests early attachment defines future outcomes, ignoring later life experiences and relationships that can reshape internal working models.

Question 8

2nd Criticism for Attachment theory

Answer 8

Main & Solomon (1990) added disorganized attachment, showing classification was incomplete.

Van IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg (1988) cross-cultural meta-analysis: attachment patterns differ across societies.

Question 9

Ainsworth et al. (1978)

Answer 9

What: Developed the Strange Situation procedure to assess attachment.
Found: Different parenting behaviours linked to secure or insecure attachment outcomes.

Question 10

Criticism to Ainsworths Strange situation (1978)

Answer 10

1. Lacks Ecological Validity:
   Conducted in an artificial lab setting, which may not reflect natural parent-child interactions.
2. Cultural Bias:
   ➝ Takahashi (1990) found Japanese infants showed higher rates of insecure-resistant attachment because they are rarely separated from their mothers, not necessarily because of poor parenting.
3. Ethical Concerns:
   Intentionally causing stress to infants by separating them raises ethical issues.