Negative Parenting Style Contributes To Child Aggression
Aggression is a common phenomenon exhibited by children. It is usually a result of factors that are either external or internal. Many times, such behaviors can be traced back to the behavior of the parents as it is believed that negative parenting style contributes to child aggression. In this article, we will look at the different types of negative parenting styles that are more likely to cause aggression in children.
What is Negative Parenting Style?
Negative parenting style is an umbrella term that encompasses various parenting styles that are associated with negative outcomes for children. Such parenting styles are often characterized by a lack of warmth, support, and responsiveness. These styles can also include harsh punishments or criticism that can have lasting effects on children’s emotional and social development. Research shows that negative parenting styles can create an environment that promotes negative behavior, including aggression.
Types of Negative Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting Style
Authoritarian parenting style is characterized by strict rules, high demands, and low responsiveness. Parents who adopt this style may be more likely to use control and harsh punishments, which can create a hostile environment where children feel unloved and unsupported. This style often results in children who are fearful and anxious, and it may increase the likelihood of aggression as a means of coping with stress.
Permissive Parenting Style
Permissive parenting style is the opposite of authoritarian parenting style. Parents who adopt this style have little control over their children’s behavior and may be more likely to spoil them. They show minimal discipline and establish few rules that children must follow, resulting in an environment in which children feel overly entitled and fail to learn self-control. This style often results in children who are self-centered and impulsive, and it may increase the likelihood of aggression as a means of getting what they want.
Neglectful Parenting Style
Neglectful parenting style is characterized by a lack of attention and support to children’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, and love. Parents who adopt this style may be uninvolved in their children’s lives and view their role as minimal or nonexistent. This style often results in children who are emotionally detached and lack self-esteem, and it may increase the likelihood of aggression as a means of attention-seeking.
Single Parent Household
Single-parent households often face unique challenges when it comes to parenting. Single parents may struggle to provide adequate emotional and financial support to their children, leading to feelings of frustration, stress, and exhaustion. These feelings can be projected onto the child, resulting in a negative parenting style that promotes aggression as a means of venting frustration or seeking power and control over the child.
How Negative Parenting Style Contributes to Child Aggression?
Children who are raised in an environment that lacks warmth, support, and responsiveness, are more likely to develop behavioral problems, including aggression. One of the primary reasons why negative parenting style contributes to child aggression is the influence it has on a child’s development. Children who experience harsh punishments, neglect, or lack of guidance may develop a negative view of themselves and the world around them, resulting in feelings of anger, frustration, and isolation.
Other reasons that negative parenting styles can contribute to child aggression are:
- Lack of emotional regulation skills: Children who are raised in an environment that does not teach them appropriate emotional regulation skills may be more likely to lash out in aggressive behavior as a way of coping with overwhelming emotions.
- Imitation of aggressive behavior: Children who witness aggressive behavior from their parents may be more likely to imitate such behavior, believing it to be an acceptable way of handling conflict.
- Power and Control: The use of harsh punishments and criticism by parents may create a power imbalance between the parents and children, leading to children using aggression as a means of gaining power and control over their environment.
How to Avoid the Negative Parenting Style?
The good news is that negative parenting styles can be avoided, and positive parenting styles promoted. Such styles promote children’s emotional and social development and reduce the incidence of aggression. Here are some tips:
- Show love and warmth towards your child.
- Encourages open communication
- Set appropriate limits and consequences for misbehavior.
- Maintain a balance between support and discipline.
- Avoid using harsh punishments as a means of correcting behavior.
- Provide adequate attention and support to your child’s basic needs.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the negative parenting styles that contribute to child aggression is the first step towards preventing such behaviors. By promoting positive parenting styles that focus on love, support, and discipline, parents can create an environment that promotes healthy development and positive behavior in children.
Remember, as a parent, your role is to guide and foster your child’s emotional and social development. By adopting positive parenting styles, you can help your child reach their full potential and avoid negative behaviors like aggression.
FAQs
What is negative parenting style?
Negative parenting style refers to a parenting approach that is harsh, inconsistent and/or lacks warmth and affection toward children. This style often involves the use of physical punishment, shouting and criticism, which can lead to anxiety, anger, and aggression in children.
How does negative parenting style contribute to child aggression?
Negative parenting style contributes to child aggression in several ways. First, it can make children feel insecure and anxious, which can lead to intense emotions and outbursts. Second, negative parenting style models aggressive behaviour, which children may learn and mimic. Third, it can suppress children’s emotional development, making it difficult for them to understand and regulate their emotions.
What are the effects of child aggression related to negative parenting style?
Child aggression related to negative parenting style can have several negative effects. Children may struggle with social relationships and experience bullying or rejections from their peers. They may also struggle with academic performance, and have difficulty regulating their emotions. Child aggression can also have long-term effects on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.
References
1. Campbell, S., & Ewing, L. J. (2021). Negative Parenting Practices and Child Aggression: A Meta-Analytic Review. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(1), 1-14.
2. Ferguson, H. A., & Knopf, H. (2019). Early childhood negative parenting behaviors, perceived aggression from caregivers, and child aggression. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 60, 93-104.
3. Harrist, A. W., & Pettit, G. S. (2017). Parenting, Coparenting, and Developmental Psychopathology. In Developmental Psychopathology (pp. 207-238). Wiley.