These parents are concerned with controlling behavior so that children comply with a set of standards. Authoritarian parents place an emphasis on obedience, order, and respect for authority. They discourage verbal negotiation about rules. Authoritative parents attempt to strike a balance between demanding that their children behave appropriately and responding to their children s needs. They set and enforce firm rules and standards for behavior and consistently monitor their children s conduct, using nonpunitive methods of discipline when rules are broken.
Authoritative parents are warm toward and supportive of their children.
They encourage some verbal give and take and recognize a child s point of view. Indulgent parents are tolerant, warm, and accepting, but they exercise little authority over their children. Indulgent parents are very committed to their children, but they make few demands for responsible and mature behavior and permit their children considerable freedom. Neglectful or disengaged parents do not oversee their children s behavior or support their interests. These parents often seem preoccupied with their own concerns and appear disengaged from the responsibilities of parenting.