Powerpoint for Parenting Styles Project

1. Parenting Styles
Across Geographical
Regions
of The United States
ERIN R HICKMAN
TROY UNIVERSITY

2. Introduction
When studying a culture, many aspects come into
defining what the cultural norms and values are.
Parenting styles are no different. They can vary across
different cultures based off of those cultural norms and
values. In certain cultures, parenting styles are
ingrained and approached with a generationally
learned manner while in others, new methodologies,
education, and social media are changing the face of
parenting. (Bornstein, 2012)
The goal of the study is to identify parenting
styles and see if each culture tends to lean towards a
particular parenting style based off of the region a
person resides in. Understanding the underlying
principles of another cultures’ parenting style is key in
understanding and accepting other values and norms
different from one’s own.
Across the United States there are different values
and norms in different regions and this may result in
different parenting styles.

3. Glossary
 Authoritarian- a style of parenting
where children have little freedom to
make their own decisions,
communication tends to be adults
telling children what to do and not
asking for opinions, and all aspects of
their life are controlled by rules.
 Authoritative- a style of parenting that
mixes allowing children to make
decisions, and has open
communication, but expectations are
high from parents. Children have rules
and are expected to follow them but
rules are discussed together with child
and parent.
 Permissive- a style of parenting also
called indulgent parenting where parents
have few rules for their children, low
expectations, and open
communication. There is not a lot of
guidance and children make decisions for
themselves.
 Parenting Style- the way a parent chooses
to discipline, set guidelines, set
expectations, and communicate with their
children throughout the child’s life.
 Uninvolved- this parenting style is
characterized by ignoring children and a
lack of communication. Can also be called
neglectful parenting.

4. Lessons Learned from Survey
 I learned while writing my questions that I had to remember to make
sure questions were not about someone’s own parenting style but rather
their thoughts about children in general so anyone could take the survey.
All of the original questions were targeted specifically to parents and I
realized some in class may not be parents, so I changed the wording.
 I learned based on feedback, I need to remember not everyone has the
same work background and education I do. A question may make sense
to me, but everyone may not be clear on the language or have a different
understanding of the meaning.
 The thing I learned about parenting styles was they are not cut and dry.
I learned people can have blended styles and different styles with
different children but tend to lean towards one style over another.

5. Pillar Theory and Model of Parenting Styles
Diana Baumrind introduced the original theories of parenting styles
in 1967. These are also known as the Pillar Theory. Other researchers
have expanded on this model. It has remained relevant and is still the
primary theory used. Her work led her to develop the Model of
Parenting Styles.
Models of Parenting Styles are the different ways parents interact
with their children. There are four types of parenting styles which are
authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved. These different
parenting styles are decided upon based on two things; demandingness
and responsiveness. Demandingness is how a parent allows their child
to grow and mature. Responsiveness is how parents react and how
accepting they are of their children and how they understand their
child’s emotional needs.
The representation of the Model of Parenting Style depicted, shows
parenting styles allowing for degrees. A parent can change their actions
and be a little less of one and a little more of another falling on different
parts of the spectrum. The parents using one type can adapt if a
difference is needed from child to child.
Representation of the Model of
Parenting Styles (Pinquart, 2017)

6. The Attachment Theory
 The attachment theory was introduced by John
Bowlby in 1969. It looks at the relationship and
bonds a child has with their parent. The four types
of recognized attachment styles are secure,
avoidant, resistant, and disorganized. The ideal
attachment for parents to strive for is secure. This
begins by meeting the child’s needs at infancy and
continuing through childhood. It determines the
way people will act in relationships throughout their
lives. The model depicted goes into detail about
the attachment styles.

7. Compare and Contrast Theories and Why
They are Important
There is a link between the Pillar Theory
and Attachment Theory. Both measure the
responsiveness of needs of parents to
children. Certain types from parenting styles do
not subscribe to attachment theory at
all. Uninvolved parents do not indulge in these
types of behavior with their children as often as
the other three. Parenting styles are ranked on
how much responsiveness and demandingness
are put into parenting. Responsiveness is high
in parents who use attachment theory.
Both theories affect the development of
children, shaping them into the adults they
become. There are predictors in behavior based
off of the two theories. Culturally people have
different views on both. Certain parenting styles
are used in certain parts of the world and certain
attachment theory levels are used around the
world. This has allowed for many studies into
both theories which produced copious amounts
of data about the outcomes of using the
different parenting styles and different
attachment levels in the different cultures.

8. Research Proposal
Hypothesis
Different parenting styles will be more prevalent in certain regions of the United States than in others. This will show a link between
cultural norms and values in a geographical area despite differences in race and upbringing.
Research Method
The research methods used in this study will be questionnaires. Questionnaires would
have some open-ended questions but would mostly be multiple choice. A Likert
scale would be used to measure the responses and data. The questions will
focus on what parenting style a parent has and what area of the United States
that person lives in. The regions would be defined by the regions shown in Map 1.
Procedures
At the beginning of the school year, the questionnaire would be sent home to
families as part of new year paperwork packet. Parents will be asked to fill out the
questionnaire and send back to school with children. Survey reminders would be sent
out once. Questionnaires would be collected, and the data evaluated. The questions
will be ranked and scored to evaluate which parenting style a person has and sorted
into which region they came from. The data will then be calculated to see if a particular
parenting-style is more common in that region.
Conclusions
If the hypothesis is supported, there will be one specific parenting style that will distinguish itself above the others as the most
commonly used parenting style for that region. Other regions may have a different primary parenting style. If the hypothesis is not
supported there will be a mixture of parenting styles across each region without any discernable difference.
Map 1

9. Conclusions
There are many aspects that shape a person’s personality as
they age, but the process begins at birth. It continues to develop
throughout childhood. The parenting styles and level of
attachment are the first steps in creating the environment needed
for one to develop proper mental health and to be a happy,
healthy person. Following the ideal models can be the most
effective way to give a child a good start. Sometimes the values
and norms of a culture can contradict what research shows to be
the best way psychologically. Travelling to different regions across
the United States, cultural norms may effect which parenting
styles are used.

10. References
Bornstein M. H. (2012). Cultural Approaches to Parenting. Parenting, science and practice, 12(2-3), 212-221.
Miller, P.M. & Commons, M.L. (2010). The Benefits of Attachment Parenting for Infants and Children: A Behavioral
Developmental View, Behavioral Development Bulletin, (Vol. 10). 'http://www.baojournal.com/BDB%20WEBSITE/BDB-no-
10/A01.pdf
Jones, J.D. & Cassidy, J. (2014) Parental attachment style: examination of links with parent secure base provision and
adolescent secure base use. Attachment & Human Development (Vol. 16 (5), pp. 437-61).
Baumrind, D. (1967) Child Care Practices Anteceding Three Patterns of Preschool Behavior. Genetic Psychology Monographs,
(Vol. 75, 43-88).
Pinquart, M. (2017) Associations of Parenting Dimensions and Styles With Externalizing Problems of Children and
Adolescents: An Updated Meta-Analysis American Psychological Association 2017, Vol. 53, No. 5, 873–932
retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=13&sid=4d2d2b . a9-509c-
4305-b420-4e2f856c84a3%40pdc-v-sessmgr01.