Ryan was purchasing a new garden hose at Wal-Mart when he heard raised voices in the next aisle. When the cart came around the corner, he had to move quickly to dodge an exploring preschool age child followed by an “out of control” mother. The mother threatened the child with punishment, but never gave him any information concerning the behavior that she expected. It was a continual “don’t…or I will…” She finally grabbed the child, forced him into the cart and proceeded to tell him how “bad” he was. As Ryan watched the tearful and frightened child roll out of sight, he knew he had witnessed a(n)
(a) authoritarian parent.
(b) indulgent parent.
(c)authoritative parent.
(d)neglectful parent
Based on the given scenario, Ryan witnessed a parenting style that aligns more with an authoritarian parent.
To arrive at this conclusion, let's break down the defining characteristics of the different parenting styles mentioned.
(a) Authoritarian parent: This parenting style is generally characterized by strict rules, high expectations, and little room for flexibility. Parents with an authoritarian approach tend to enforce their authority without providing much explanation or rationale. They often use punishment as a means of control and may show little warmth or sensitivity towards their child's emotions.
(b) Indulgent parent: An indulgent or permissive parenting style is characterized by a lack of rules and structure. Parents with this approach are generally lenient and allow their child to do as they please, often without setting clear boundaries or consequences.
(c) Authoritative parent: The authoritative parenting style strikes a balance between setting boundaries and being nurturing. Parents with an authoritative approach are firm but also exhibit warmth and understanding. They provide explanations for the rules and encourage their child's independence and individuality.
(d) Neglectful parent: This parenting style involves a lack of involvement or attention from the parent. Neglectful parents may fail to meet their child's basic needs, both physically and emotionally.
In the scenario described, the mother's behavior can be characterized as authoritarian because she exhibited controlling and punitive behavior towards her child without providing any information or guidance on the expected behavior. Additionally, her response to the child's actions was to immediately resort to punishment without explaining why. This aligns with the characteristics of an authoritarian parenting style.
Therefore, the correct answer is (a) authoritarian parent.