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