Which Psychological Conditions Result From Having An Authoritarian Parent?

Authoritarian parenting is a strict, harsh, and overbearing style of parenting that has been linked to poor psychological outcomes for children. It is one of the four major parenting styles and has the highest correlation with child aggression, including bullying. Research shows that children raised by authoritarian parents tend to have poor emotional and behavioral problems, poor social and decision-making skills, depression and anxiety, aggression, a strong sense of failure, low self-esteem, and being more open-minded about suicide than other kids.

Authoritarian parenting is a philosophy developed in the 1960s by developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind, which aims to strike a balance between high demands and low responsiveness. However, research shows that authoritarian parenting can have long-term adverse effects on children’s health, including lowering their self-esteem.

A high level of psychological pressure in authoritarian parenting can lead to internalizing symptoms, while a low level of rules can lead to better social and psychological adjustment. Authoritarian parents often lack responsiveness or acceptance, and may fail to understand the consequences of their parenting style.

Over time, this parenting style can result in long-lasting mental health challenges for children. Children of authoritarian parents tend to be more neurotically inclined, which is a trait that can be influenced by their environment and experiences. To protect children’s and adolescents’ mental health, it is recommended that parents and teachers be alerted to red flags and warning signs of mental health disorders for early intervention.

What are the psychological effects of authoritarianism?

Authoritarianism can lead to various negative effects, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, emotional regulation issues, behavior problems, shame and guilt, bullying, and a sense of helplessness. Victims often experience self-blame, lack of empathy, suppression, shame, and fear, which can be projected and externalized, leading to the formation of a new authoritarian. The prolonged stress of living under an authoritarian’s rule can cause a traumatic response in the body, leading to disease, dysfunction, and chronic fear. This internalized oppression is the cycle of authoritarianism, as the body and mind break down, resulting in internalized oppression.

Can strict parents cause trauma?

Strict parenting can sometimes lead to trauma, as some parents may withhold basic needs from their children out of punishment, resulting in emotional impact. While not all strict parents are abusive, overly strict parenting can cause complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD) similar to those who have experienced physical or sexual abuse. Additionally, authoritarian parenting can worsen behavior problems, especially severe ones. Studies have shown that harsh discipline and psychological control can cause behavior to worsen, even if the child is outwardly well-behaved.

While not all strict parents are abusive, extreme cases of overly strict parenting can result in severe behavioral issues. Therefore, it is crucial for parents to be aware of the potential consequences of their parenting style.

What could happen to a child who is raised by an authoritarian parent?

Authoritarian parenting is characterized by strict rules and obedience, often discouraged and limited in communication. This type of parenting can lead to negative effects on children, such as emotional and behavioral issues, poor social skills, depression, anxiety, aggression, a strong sense of failure, low self-esteem, and open-mindedness towards suicide. Although it is not considered abuse, it is linked to negative outcomes and can negatively impact children’s mental health and self-esteem.

What are common traits of authoritarian parenting?

An authoritarian parent is characterized by high demands and low responsiveness, often resulting in little warmth or nurturing, little explanation for punishments, few choices for children, impatience with misbehavior, mistrusting, unwilling to negotiate, and shaming. Diana Baumrind identified two other parenting styles: authoritative parenting and permissive parenting. Some believe there are four parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved or neglectful. Authoritarian parents have high expectations for their children but provide little feedback and nurturing, often punishing mistakes harshly.

What is authoritarian personality disorder?

A personality pattern is defined by a strict adherence to simplified conventional values, deference to authority figures, subservience from individuals of a lower status, and hostility towards those who deviate from these moral prescriptions.

How do parenting styles affect mental health?

Authoritarian parenting, which emphasizes strict rules and control, can lead to negative mental health outcomes in children. This style may cause fear, anxiety, and low self-esteem, as children may struggle with expressing emotions and building healthy relationships. Permissive parenting, on the other hand, can cause children to struggle with impulse management, decision-making, and handling frustration due to the lack of structure and boundaries.

Neglectful parenting, on the other hand, can lead to feelings of worthlessness and insecurity, increasing the risk of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and attachment disorders. These parenting styles can have detrimental effects on children’s mental health.

What are the anticipated effects of authoritarian parenting?

Children reared in authoritarian households frequently exhibit a reliance on their parents, a tendency toward submissiveness, diminished social competence, reduced confidence, lessened intellectual curiosity, and a lack of commitment to achievement, when compared to their counterparts raised in authoritative families. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent among female subjects. The utilization of cookies on this website is subject to the provisions set forth in the copyright notice, © 2024 Elsevier B. V., as well as those of its licensors and contributors.

What are the psychological effects of authoritarian parenting?

Authoritarian parents often cause children to struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, poor decision-making skills, and anger coping. Emily, a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience, uses her expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help families heal and find peace. Choosing Therapy provides accurate and actionable mental health content, citing sources such as government agencies, universities, scholarly journals, and industry associations. The company aims to provide high-quality mental health journalism, ensuring that its articles are cited accurately and actionable. To learn more, readers can review their full editorial policy.

Is authoritarian parenting toxic?

Authoritarian parenting is often associated with negative outcomes, but it is not considered abuse. On the other hand, authoritative parents use reasonable rules and limits to set high expectations, listen to their children’s ideas, and guide them to independence. They use consistent discipline and love to teach good behavior, and children who grow up with authoritative parents are generally confident, responsible, emotionally healthy, and perform well academically. However, authoritative parenting can also lead to issues such as lack of warmth, criticism, trust issues, unwillingness to negotiate, and lack of patience with misbehavior.

What kind of children are raised by authoritarian parents?

Authoritarian parenting is characterized by aggressive behavior, social insensitivity, shyness, and difficulty making decisions. Children in this style have poor self-esteem and are likely to rebel against authority figures. They often model behavior shown by their parents, leading to a lack of independent thinking and anger management. This parenting style is low in parental responsiveness and high in parental demandingness. Authoritarian parents are critical of their children and use rules to enforce desired behavior.

However, strong punishment can lead to misbehavior, rebellion, and power struggles. Research shows that children with authoritarian parents perform worse than those with permissive parents. A better option is the authoritative parenting style, which allows children to be independent thinkers, self-regulate their emotions, and achieve success. Authoritative parents show high levels of warmth and control.

How do strict parents affect mental health?

Authoritarian parenting is one of the four major parenting styles, with the highest correlation with child aggression, bullying, anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. Thomas, a young child with curiosity and awe, faced challenges from his parents who challenged his spirit and did little to support his emotional and cognitive well-being. They set rules and structure without interest in his thoughts or feelings, and did not encourage his joy in creative energy, including questioning and experimenting.

They were not fully present with him, not encouraging self-reflection or brainstorming, essential for problem-solving, and provided little direction for modeling critical thinking. This lack of presence and control can lead to negative outcomes for children.