Parenting Styles in Identity Essay Example for Free

P atomic number 18nting Styles in Identity EssayChildren argon always exploring their independence and developing their identity operator, or in other words, a sense of self. Research has shown that those who amaze proper encouragement and reinforcement will emerge with a strong sense of self. Those who do non receive proper encouragement and reinforcement will remain unsure of themselves and confused about the future. For this reason, I believe an authoritative parenting style is the most beneficial factor in the formation of identity.Before we fare into parenting styles, we must first discuss how an identity is formed. One of Erik Eriksons steps in his Theory of Psychosocial Development is identity versus confusion, comm sole(prenominal) called the identity crisis. This is a period of exploration and analysis of different ways of looking at oneself.1 James Marcia expanded on Eriksons theory by stating that there are two parts in the process of identity a crisis and a comm itment. He defined a crisis as a cartridge clip of turmoil where old values and choices are being reexamined. The result of a crisis leads to a commitment to a certain value or role. Commitment to that value or role means not only making a firm choice, but engaging in activities to implement that choice as well.2 raft who have explored and committed to an identity are much open, experience fewer problems in society, and are more effective communicators.3 Effective parenting helps children urinate it through the crisis stage and establish a commitment.There are quatern patterns of parenting authoritarian, authoritative, indulgent, and uninvolved parenting. Authoritarian parents are controlling and demanding but not very loving or responsive to their childrens needs. They intervene frequently and do not allow their children to make independent choices. Authoritative parents have spunky expectations and come in make it boundaries, but allow their children considerable freed om. They are accepting, loving, and supportive of their children. Indulgent parents are responsive to their childrens needs but completely undemanding. They are warm and loving but set no clear boundaries or expectations. Uninvolved parents are unresponsive and undemanding. They are not warm or loving, nor do they set any type of boundaries or expectations.With these four types of parenting in mind, lets take a look at what maternal characteristics help or hinder a childs identity development. The aflame characteristics that facilitate identity development are warmth, companionship, and acceptance. The behavioural characteristics that facilitate identity development are setting reasonable behavior standards and enforcing adherence to those standards, support self-expression and self-exploration, and being accepting of others perspectives. The emotional characteristics that impede a childs identity development are hostility, restrictiveness, emotional distance, and rejection. The behavioural characteristics that impede identity development are rigidity, intolerance, inability to adjust, and not setting behavior standards.4These emotional and behavioral characteristics that assist or inhibit identity development tie back into the afore mentioned patterns of parenting.Both authoritarian and uninvolved parents emotional and behavioral characteristics obstruct identity development. Indulgent parents emotional characteristics help identity development, but their behavioral characteristics hamper it. Authoritative parents emotional and behavioral characteristics support identity development. As you can see, neither a neglectful or avoidant style of parenting is likely to help the development of identity. Steinberg stated that compared with their counterparts from non-authoritative homes, authoritatively reared adolescents earn high grades in school, are more self-reliant, report less psychological distress, and are less involved in delinquent activity.5In conclu sion, I believe that authoritative parenting is the most beneficial factor in the formation of identity. This is because the emotional and behavioral characteristics of authoritative parenting enable children to most effectively pass through the crisis stage of development and make a firm commitment. Therefore, the child is able to establish a solid identity.Works Cited1. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity juvenility and Crisis. New York Norton.2. Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 551-558.3. Bhushan, R., Shirali, K. A. (1992). Family types and communication with parents A comparison of young person at different identity levels. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 21, 687-697.4. Adams, G. R., Dyk, P., Bennion, L. D. (1990). Parent-adolescent relationships and identity formation. In B. K. Barber B. C. Rollins (Eds.), Parent-adolescent relationships (pp. 1-16). Lanham, MD University defend of Ameri ca.5. Steinberg, L. (2001). We know some things Parent-adolescent relationships in retrospect and prospect. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 11, 28.