Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior

Abstract

Three models of parental control-permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative-are described and contrasted. Pertinent findings concerning the effects on child behavior of component disciplinary practices are reviewed. With these and other findings as the basis for discussion, several propositions concerning the effects on child behavior of parental control variables are critically examined. Finally, the relation between freedom and control is examined and the position defended that authoritative control may effectively generate in the child, behavior which while well socialized is also wilful and independent.