Parental Influence

Thesis:
American children face many pressures through out their adolescents. Parental influence is becoming increasingly important to a child’s development and abilities later on in life. Parents today do not realize how much their own actions effect their child’s future.

Parenting Styles
Ref: The Developing Child

• Permissive
o High in nurturance
o Low in demands, control and communication

• Authoritarian
o High control and demands
o Low in nurturance and communication

• Authoritative
o High in control, demands, nurturance and communication

• Neglecting
o Low in control, demands, nurturance and communication

Effects of parenting styles on adolescents
Ref: The Developing Child & Educational Psychology

• Permissive
o Less likely to do well in school
o Likely to be aggressive
o Immature
o Less responsible
o Less independent

• Authoritarian
o Less likely to do well in school
o Poor social skills
o Low self esteem
o High levels of aggression
o “Out of control”

• Authoritative
o Highest Positive Outcomes
o High self esteem
o Does well in school
o Great social skills
o Independent
o Willing to comply with parental requests
o Self confident
o Achievement orientated

• Neglecting
o Highest Negative Outcome
o Very aggressive
o Impulsive
o Anti social
o Not likely to do well in school or relationships
o Increased sexual activity

Effects of family structure on adolescents
Ref: The Developing Child & Educational Psychology

• Divorce

o Step parent(s)
 Depression
 Aggression
 More likely to abuse alcohol and drugs
 Unstable in relationships

o Single parent
 Aggression
 More likely to abuse alcohol and drugs
 Unstable in relationships
 Poverty becomes common

o Gay/ Lesbian parent(s)
 Studies prove no difference in development of heterosexual parents

• Teen Parents
o Fights with peers
o Truancy
o Early sexual activity

• Religion
o Some religions have cause parents to adhere to stricter guidelines for raising your children. This may cause rebellion and other delinquencies.

• Economic Status
o The lower the status the higher the misbehavior and vise versa.

Connections to the novels
Ref: Novels used in class

• Charlotte Temple
o Married & Alive

o Authoritarian Parenting style
 Defiance
 Independence
 Longing for attention

o Economic Status
 Upper class
 Highly respected
 Rich
 Expectations

• Huck Finn

o Dad & Single

o Neglecting Parent
 Uses Huck
 Abusive
 Alcoholic
 Selfish

o Economic Status
 Low Class
 Poor
 Stole
 No permanent residence

Connections to my own adolescents

• Theresa (Mother)
o Neglecting Background
o Authoritative Parent
o Needed better for me

 Basic Needs
• Were provided primarily by my mom

 Class, Money
• Upper middle class

 Grades, Schooling
• Best schools, Great grades were expected

 Opportunities & Experiences
• Tried everything I wanted at least once

o Pageants & Modeling
o Soft Ball & Cheerleading
o Gymnastics
o Ice skating & Roller skating
o Dance & Voice
o Piano
o Various clubs and organizations
 BPA
 Key Club
 Choir
 SGA
 DECA
 Focus

• Family

• Religion(Christianity)

• Academics

• Life Lessons

• Everything and Anything

• Dave (step father)
o Authoritative Background
o Authoritative Parent
o Wanted same for me

 Experiences
• Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Four wheeling

 Availability
• Easy to talk to about anything
• Always there for me
• Filled my fathers shoes, while he was away

 Focus
• Family
• Religion (Catholicism)
• Life Lessons

• Brad (Father)
o Permissive Background
o Authoritarian Parent
o Means well and wants the best for me

 Experiences
• Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Four wheeling
• Construction, Farming, Wilderness Survival

 Availability
• Wasn’t there during adolescents (improving now)

 Focus
• Life Lessons
• Religion (Christianity)

• Tracy (step mother)
o Authoritarian Background
o Permissive Parent
o Great step mother

 Experiences
• Sewing, Crafts, Baking, Gardening

 Availability
• Easy to talk to about anything
• Always there for me

 Focus
• Family
• Religion(Christianity)
• Life Lessons

*Huck*

When we were first assigned to read the Adventures of Huck Finn, I was not very interested in doing it. As I read the story I found myself wondering what happens next as well as where Huck would end up. I was constantly playing out alternate endings and searching for clues as to what came next. Twain was very good at keeping me guessing. In the end I enjoyed reading the book, but wish there would have been more of an ending. Although, I understand that with out an open ending the reader wouldn’t be interested in a sequel.

The story itself was a wonderful reflection on America. There were so many elements of our great country portrayed in the novel. The following are just a few examples…

Independence
• Huck fought to be on his own in the wilderness, taking care of himself
• Tom always had to be the leader, the independent one
Freedom
• Jim fought to be free all through out the story
• Huck and Tom dreamt of being free from societal demands and pressure
Class System
• The class system was displayed all through out the story
o Pap being an alcoholic who abused his kid and stole
o Tom’s family was well off because they all worked hard and chipped in
o The doctor and lawyer using their connections to catch the duke and king
o Huck doesn’t want to be educated or civilized because it goes against the way he was raised, which ultimately keeps him down in class rank
Slavery
• Jim and other slaves were mistreated on several occasions through out the story
• The slaves in this story were bought and sold in several chapters
• Jim has to hide almost everyday or he will be captured and possibly killed
o He cant go into any of the cities and experience what Huck is
• The simple fact that Jim was once a slave causes a lot of trouble
Religion
• Tom and Huck reject following any sort of religion
• Jim seems to follow a Christian religion of some sort on several occasions he mentions praise the lord or oh help me Jesus
• The civilized families in the novel all seemed to follow some sort of religion and lived their lives by it
• The widow and her sister try to force religion on Huck in the beginning and Aunt Polly tries in the end

The entire story line focuses on the optimism that comes along with chasing the American dream. Huck is looking towards his future while Jim is planning his through out their whole adventure. Jim wants to be a free man, get a job and pay for his family’s freedom. Huck wants to be a free man so to speak as well he wants to live free of the rules and religion that bound civilized society. I learned a lot reading this novel.