Running head: CAREGIVER STYLES 1

Caregiver Styles

Julie Estep

Fresno Pacific University

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Caregiver Styles

In the 1960s Baumrind started her famous research in childcare. She used the current

information that was available on caregiving styles and built her research on from there. With her

findings she came up with the theory that there are different types of caregiving styles based on

two main elements, responsiveness and demandingness. With these two aspects as

measurements, Baumrind established these different types caregiving styles: authoritarian,

authoritative, and permissive (indulgent or uninvolved).

These types of caregiving styles are based off of two aspects parental responsiveness

versus parental unresponsiveness and parental demandingness versus parental undemandingness.

Responsiveness is the level to which a parent or caregiver meets the childs needs and supports

them. A parent or caregiver who is high in responsiveness may show warmth to a child, provides

good communication, and gives explanations to children. Demandingness is level of control a

parent or caregiver has on a childs behavior and the level of maturity they expect from a child. A

caregiver shows what they expect through the limits and rules they set which determines their

demandingness.

Authoritative caregiving is high on responsiveness as well as high on demandingness.

This type of parent stands their ground when it comes to rules, but will make exceptions if the

situation calls for it. It has been proven that, parenting is most effective when characterized

by a combination of high behavioral expectations and warm emotional support (Berg & Cornell,

2016, p. 124). An authoritative parent caters to their childs needs but does not over indulge in

them. Authoritative style is deemed the positive approach to caregiving and helps children feel

safe and secure which supports self-responsibility and healthy self- control. This is the parenting

style that Baumrind favors as the best way to parent a child.

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Authoritarian caregiving style is when a parent or caregiver is extremely demanding of

their child but lack in responsiveness such as warmth. Authoritarian parents are harsh. They

demand things from a child but do not respond to a childs needs in a positive way or nurturing

way. This style of caregiving is deemed a negative approach. It is negative because some

authoritarian parents are often abusive when a child breaks their set demands and rules. Parents

are less effective when they are highly structured and demanding but not supportive (Cornell, &

Heilbrun, & Huang, & Konold, & Lacey, & Meyer, & Nekvasil, & Shukla, 2014, p.239). This

type of caregiving promotes negative self-esteem and results in poor self-control for children.

Children who are exposed to this style of caregiving can become aggressive in nature. This type

of caregiving only strengthens adults to act negatively towards a child.

Permissive caregiving is when a caregiver is low on demandingness of their child. Two

types caregiving style derive from this style of caregiving: indulgent and uninvolved. Indulgent

caregiving is low in demandingness but high in responsiveness. It lacks in enforcing rules and

teaching the child independence but instead babies the child by excessively meeting their child's

needs. Some permissive parents often spoil their children. Uninvolved caregiving is low in

demandingness and low in responsiveness. It is when a caregiver is unengaged and has given up.

Permissive caregiving results in children having low impulse control and becoming dependent on

others.

Diana Baumrind opened up a new platform in which people can view how children can

be cared for. It is important as caregivers and parents to give children the warmth and safety they

need but also demanding in an appropriate way for children to follow a suitable set of rules. In

conclusion there must be a balance in both responsiveness and demandingness in order to set

children for future success in major developmental areas.

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References

Berg, J. K., & Cornell, D. (2016). Authoritative school climate, aggression toward teachers, and

teacher distress in middle school. School Psychology Quarterly, 31(1), 122-139.

doi:10.1037/spq0000132

Cornell, D., Heilbrun, A., Huang, F., Konold, T., Lacey, A., Meyer, P., Nekvasil, E., Shukla, K.

(2014). Supplemental Material for Multilevel Multi-Informant Structure of the

Authoritative School Climate Survey. School Psychology Quarterly, 29, 3rd ser., 238-

255. doi:10.1037/spq0000062.supp

Marion, M. (2011). Guidance of young children (9th edition). Boston, MA: Pearson.