Parenting Styles and Their Effects on Children Essay Example for Free

Parenting Styles and Their Effects on Children Essay There is a woman in Wal-Mart shopping for groceries. She is a mother with of kids ranging in age from two to ten. The four-year old grabs a pack of cookies off the shelf and places them in the cart. Her mother notices and asks her to put the cookies back. The little girl stomps her feet and begins to scream â€Å"I want cookies! † at the top of her lungs. The other customers stop and stare, anticipating her mother’s reaction. Taking advantage of the crowd, the little girl launches into a full-blown temper tantrum. Feeling the eyes of strangers watching, the mother desperately tries to calm her daughter down. When all else fails, the mother gives in. How should the mother have handled it? What does this say about her style of parenting? â€Å"The idea of being a parent is exciting but its a little scary; what if you get it wrong? Theres so much you have to know and so many things you have to decide† (Gurian, 2011). Parenting is arguably the toughest, yet most rewarding full-time occupation. There is no universal manual on how to raise the perfect child or how to be the perfect parent. Parents are responsible for raising a child from birth to adulthood. How a child is raised differs from household to household. What works in one family may or may not work in another. Parenting styles can be based on culture, socioeconomic status, or the kind of parenting the parent received as a child. In the 1960s, a psychologist by the name of Diana Baumrind studied more than one hundred preschoolers. Baumrind identified four significant dimensions of parenting through naturalistic observation, parental interviews and other various research methods. They are warmth and nurturance, communication styles, expectations of maturity and control, and disciplinary strategies (Cherry, 2011). Baumrind is also responsible for identifying the three main parenting styles. Based on her research, others were able to come up with a fourth and highly unfavorable style of parenting. The four styles of parenting are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, negligent or uninvolved parenting (Cherry, 2011). An authoritarian parent enforces rigid rules and demands strict obedience to authority. Children raised in authoritarian households are expected to accept without question what the parents tell them (Coon, Mitterer, Talbot and Vanchella, 2010, p. 91). An authoritative parent is similar to an authoritarian parent when it comes to enforcing rules and establishing guidelines. The children are expected to abide by these rules and guidelines. However, an authoritative parent allows the child to voice his or her opinion making this style more of a democracy than a dictatorship. The child is allowed to make mistakes without the guilt of disappointing the parents. Permissive parents demand very little of their children and rarely discipline them. They are more of a friend than a parent to their child (Cherry, 2011). Negligent or uninvolved parents are unresponsive, uncommunicative, and have few demands. They fulfill the basic needs of children – food, shelter, clothes—but are emotionally detached from their child’s life. They have very little knowledge of what goes on in the child’s world. What effect does the parenting style have on children? Diana Baumrind (2012) researched the qualities of children based on the parental style in their home. Her results are as follows: Authoritative Parenting: †¢lively and happy disposition †¢self-confident about ability to master tasks well developed emotion regulation †¢developed social skills †¢less rigid about gender-typed traits (exp: sensitivity in boys and independence in girls) Authoritarian Parenting: †¢anxious, withdrawn, and unhappy disposition †¢poor reactions to frustration (girls are particularly likely to give up and boys become especially hostile) †¢do well in school (studies may show authoritative parenting is comparable) †¢not likely to engage in antisocial activities (exp: drug and alcohol abuse, vandalism, gangs) Permissive Parenting poor emotion regulation (under regulated) †¢rebellious and defiant when desires are challenged †¢low persistence to challenging tasks †¢antisocial behaviors Dr. Dan Bochner (2012), author of â€Å"The Essentials of Parenting,† states the essentials of parenting are kindness and affection balanced with consistency and firmness. Children need kindness and affection to know that they are loved and that their parents understand mistakes will be made. Consistency and firmness are crucial as well in order to establish rules and guidelines for children to obey. Bochner thoroughly elaborates on how kindness, affection, consistency and balance are necessary when raising a child: * â€Å"Kindness: In essence, kindness involves putting yourself in the shoes of your child, thinking about your childs motivations or intentions, and realizing that what theyre going through, or the way theyre acting, is related to their age, and the vulnerability of their situation. When we disapprove of a childs behavior, we are likely to over-react if we see their actions exclusively from the adult perspective. It is common to think children should know better without considering what they are experiencing. When were tired or stressed it can intensify a less than empathic reaction. Likewise, when children are acting in ways that we like, we have to remember that their actions require effort on their part, and if we do not demonstrate our appreciation, our children might feel little desire to make similar effort in the future. * Affection: One way that we can show our appreciation is through affection. It feels good to be hugged and snuggled as long as its invited. The desire of most children for affection is so great that theyll often rub up against their parents, or flop into their laps, like hungry kittens. Sometimes children will behave in positive ways just because they want affection. But it is also often the case that a child is in a moment where they want and need independence. It is important for parents to understand the independent spirit of their children and to refrain from being too affectionate when their child desires, or should be developing, independence. As much as a parent must recognize that their child needs affection, they must also realize that holding off on being affectionate might be almost as crucial since a child can perceive overwhelming affection as thwarting independence. Consistency: Consistency is made difficult by our own changing moods and by our differences with our partners. Children are better able to negotiate the family and watch their behavior when parents expectations are clear, and the consequences are set for what will occur when expectations are not met. If we are able to remain consistent in spite of stress or unpredictable circumstances, we b uild stability into the family environment. Nothing can be more important than the ability of parents to support one another in their views and their interventions if consistency is to be maintained. The confidence children develop as a result of parental consistency carries over into other parts of life, and into your childs future. * Firmness: Firmness, of course, goes hand in hand with consistency. When a parent is serious and behaves in accordance with their feelings, children feel it in their bones. This is not a recommendation for angry or mean behavior. Rather, tone of voice, body language and facial expression easily reveal seriousness. Children, who are used to a consistent, yet loving and affectionate, home, know when they should not cross the line. Testing of parental limits occurs with almost all children, but if children know with certainty that parents will stand firm when theyve had enough, children learn their limits while simultaneously learning the limits they should set in their interactions with others. † Lastly, Dr. Bochner (2012) ties them all together with parents making an effort: * â€Å"Make the Effort: There is one point that is essential to repeat. As a parent it is necessary to make the effort to keep these attributes in mind and in balance. But it is not always going to be easy, and sometimes it may not seem possible. Parents need to give themselves a break when they are impatient or snap in frustration. As long as there is an effort to be kind, affectionate, consistent, and firm, children will get the message that they are loved, valued, and cared for in a consistent and knowable world. If they internalize that message, they will carry it with them throughout their lives, and they will pass it on to the next generation. † Parental styles also come into play when dealing with temperaments of children. Since children in the same household may have different temperaments, it is crucial parents are aware of it and adjust accordingly. The differences in temperament can be detected early in infancy. They are classified as easy, difficult and slow to warm up. Easy children are very adaptable, calm, interested in trying new things, cheerful and usually content. Difficult children are the exact opposite. They are fussy, easily upset, fearful of unfamiliar situations and people, aggressive and have low adaptability. Children that are slow to warm up have a tendency to be shy, somewhat inactive, withdraw or negatively react to new experiences but over time their reactions become more positive ( Gurian 2011). As the children get older, their temperaments change based on their understanding of different situations. For example, before shy children reach adolescence, they are considered a â€Å"slow to warm up† child. Once they are familiar with their new surroundings, they will interact with other children. Parenting is a responsibility that can’t be taken lightly. There is more to being a parent than just conceiving a child. How a child is raised effects their development into adulthood. Most parents raise their kids based on how they were brought up with a few modifications. I was raised in an authoritative household and will raise my kids the same way. Parents strive to give their kids the best life possible and will sometimes go beyond their means to ensure this. Joshua Becker (2012) made a list of ten things all children need that give more to the child than anything of monetary value: love, time/attention, encouragement/affirmation, stability, opportunity, discipline, a good laugh, your lap, room to make mistakes, and hugs/kisses. Proverbs 22:6 states: â€Å"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. † The best parents nurture and are not afraid to discipline their kids. They parents teach and instill morals that their children will never forget. As young adults, children will make decisions built on morals and conduct themselves as if their parents are watching. Although they won’t always agree with their parents, they will appreciate how they were raised. Most are thankful their parents were just that – parents- and didn’t try to be their best friend.

Virtuosity in Othello :: Literary Analysis, Shakespeare,

The character Desdemona in William Shakespeare’s play Othello holds on to her dignified behavior until the very end, when her life is taken by her jealous husband, is indicative not only of her chaste mind, but also of her virtuous fortitude. Women of that time were largely seen mostly one of two extremes – either virtuous or licentious. Desdemona’s strength as a virtuous woman are clearly illustrated in two pivotal scenes in Shakespeare’s play: in her poise when confronted with her husband’s collapse of his gentlemanly facade; and in the dignified way she faces her own demise head-on, feeble on affirmations, yet overflowing with grace. In Act 4, Scene 2, Desdemona proves herself as a lady in her discussion with the evil Iago, who, unbeknownst to her, is the cause of her chagrin. Although she bewails that Othello has called her a whore, she herself does not stoop to insults. Proudly, she declares, â€Å"Unkindness may do much† and, in a moment of disturbing foreshadowing, states â€Å"And his unkindness may defeat my life† (IV.ii. 164-65). Though virtuous to a fault, she remains dignified and affirms, â€Å"I cannot even say ‘whore.’ / It does abhor me now I speak the word; / To do the act that might the addition earn / Not the world’s mass of vanity could make me† (166-69). During the tragic conclusion of the play, in Act 5 scene 2, Othello suffocates his adored Desdemona in the erroneous belief of her infidelity. She nevertheless departs with dignity. She does not wail but instead she merely states: â€Å"O, falsely, falsely murdered!† (130). One is left to wonder if she is referring to herself or to Cassio; regardless, these words are simply matter-of-fact and are not the emotion-driven cries one would normally expect from a person facing her own execution. Through her dying breath, Desdemona states clearly, â€Å"A guiltless death I die† (136). Her mistress Emilia, obviously overcome with emotion, pleads to Desdemona to name the killer, crying, â€Å"Help! Help, ho! Help! O lady, speak again!† (134) and â€Å"O, who hath done this deed?† (137). With a quiet composure on her deathbed, Desdemona cryptically tells Emilia, â€Å"Nobody—I myself. Farewell† (138). Was she a self-loving character who had the ability to love others unconditionally? Or was she a fool who accepted her worldly fate in the belief that, by doing so, she was being righteous? Othello appears to be more of a weak character to succumb to misguided vanity and jealousy than Desdemona in meeting her own end with dignity.

English Essay †Speeches Essay

Question: there are as many different ways of interpreting and valuing texts, as there are readers. Of the countless speeches recorded throughout time a select few have transcended their original contexts and political battles to retain relevance today. We have viewed their progress over time as their outspoken ideas and reception withstanding relevance within our changing society regardless of altering values. Aung San Suu Kyi, Emma Goldman and Dr. Martin Luther King’s empowering speeches have spanned across decades, united in their aim to draw attention to a lack of freedom, justice and democratic rights and are unique in urging others to support their fight for disadvantaged social groups. In Aung San Suu Kyi’s â€Å"Keynote address at the Beijing World Conference on Women† in China 1995, she speaks with deep conviction regarding the lack of freedom that women suffer. So too does Emma Goldman when in 1917 she delivered â€Å"The political criminal of today must needs be the saint of the new age† to a jury consisting entirely of men. The discrimination that these two women discuss exemplifies women across the world, continuously being persecuted for their gender. Suu Kyi did not make use of rhetoric in her speech but instead chose to develop a sense of intimacy and appealed to her audience’s intellect through a close up video recording. Her tone and stoical approach invites her listeners to adopt new perspectives and to include women in the political process as â€Å"no war was ever started by women†. Her campaign continues with an age-old proverb of her culture that â€Å"the dawn rises only when the rooster crows† metaphorically depicting how women are subserviently treated today by the â€Å"rooster†. The proverb needs to change as it is because the dawn appears that the rooster crows. Goldman too addresses the issue of discrimination by analysing the way women are treated by power wielding men, more specifically in the legal and political system. During her defence against claims of conspiracy she defends her anarchist position and utilises sarcasm and truncated sentences to ridicule the jury when she repeatedly declares that she is facing â€Å"Gentlemen of the jury† and  only gentlemen. The anaphora illustrates her contempt that there are no females present in the jury, that these men are supposed to be honest gentlemen, an oxymoron in her eyes, and so should treat her the same way they would treat others in the same position. A personal interpretation examines men’s hold on power in society but times have changed and society must reject traditions that no longer reflect the truth. Suu Kyi’s speech comes at a time when China is stepping out of the shadows and recognising women as their own entities when it once saw them as 2nd class. Its reception today would not have altered since she spoke but there are more people supporting her cause and helping to fight for the freedom of women. There is global understanding that throughout history we are met with the same boundaries and are eternally urged to fight for equality and justice. These boundaries were met when Dr Martin Luther King challenged the widespread attitudes of society by calling on his fellow American’s by offering â€Å"a new leaf† and justice to all, no matter what race or colour. Culture in the southern states was heavily segregated in 1963 and racial division was enshrined in southern custom and law. King delivered his speech when it was needed most, however Emma Goldman delivered â€Å"The political criminal of today†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ahead of her time as the mere idea of freedom of speech was considered scandalous. With two separate causes represented by great speakers; Negro’s and free speech, both composers attempted to win their audiences support for their cause. King delivered â€Å"I have a dream† to a crowd of 250,000 followers and millions watching on television and used rhetoric gained from his preaching days coupled with the use of many anaphora’s to effectively to inflict fear upon his audience. His appeal to their emotions instilled that â€Å"it would be fatal†¦to overlook†¦the movement† and unless something is done about racial injustice, life is worthless. Emma Goldman’s clever use of rhetoric defies tradition and unlike King’s use of emotion she alienated her audience by stirring negative opinions and called upon her intellect to win her battle. In 1917 when Goldman plead to the jury she sought justice in her defence against claims of conspiracy. Urging the court to form an unbiased opinion and recognise her fight for freedom of speech she alludes to her fellow so called anarchists â€Å"Jesus, Socrates, Galileo, Bruno, John Brown† to prove she is not wrong and that nothing willà ‚  make her change her position. King was greeted with an euphoric and peaceful reception as he was seen as a freedom fighter and today in our contemporary world the significance of his speech remains evident. By appealing to both audiences’ intellect regarding injustice, King and Goldman aimed to persuade their respective audiences of the right path to choose. When King bellows out that â€Å"the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination†, his metaphoric emotive language heightens his passion for freedom for his people from more than slavery. Similarly to King, Goldman fights for justice and through a series of rhetorical questions she asks the jury a final time to â€Å"please forget that I am an Anarchist†¦Have we been engaged in a conspiracy? Have these overt acts been proven?† She asks for a fair trial and to not be disadvantaged because of society’s values – she only wishes for justice to prevail. Sadly the jury found her guilty but her works reception reaches a higher extent today as we can appreciate her effort in changing society’s perception of free speech. While injustice was inflicted upon three social groups, Aung San Suu Kyi, Emma Goldman and Dr. Martin Luther King stood up and were three speakers who managed to defy old-fashioned social and political beliefs of their time to be recognised in our contemporary society. When delivering their speeches they gained the attention and support of a crowd through their stage presence, use of rhetoric and particularly political contextual values that aim to achieve this. In order to be recognised they needed to give their audience a purpose and through earnest ideas of freedom, justice and democratic rights their reception has not altered from when they were delivered to now as we are continually fighting for such causes.

Socrates Defense Against The Criticism Of Plato s Apology

After the introductory remarks, Plato’s Apology continues with Socrates’ defense against the â€Å"First Accusations,† because his accusers are many, and of all ages: the older accusers have persuaded the youth to speak and think badly of Socrates, and given that they were at an age of influence, the lesson stuck. The old accusations that Socrates has to address first and foremost are: â€Å"Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing in that he busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he makes the worse into the stronger argument, and he teaches these same things to others.† (Plato 19b) Socrates proceeds by explaining where these slanders come from, since for them to appear in the first place, there should be something in his being that†¦show more content†¦However, Socrates was not the one who inquired to the oracle, but his friend Chaerephon: he asked if any man was wiser than Socrates, to which Pythian answered that there was not. Because of this answer from the Delphic god, Socrates decided to go on a quest in order to understand what the god meant, because Socrates did not consider himself wise. His discovery of his human wisdom comes from this philosophical mission that he undertakes, because the gods have knowledge that those that are not divine do not, therefore there has to be some truth in the oracle’s answer, and Socrates gives himself this mission to find it. This mission consists in going to see wise men, poets and craftsmen, to rebut the oracle’s answer, because they are known for their knowledge and people even pay for it. He vi sits his first so-called philosopher, where he â€Å"inspects† him, only to realize that he is nothing more than an ignorant whom is unacquainted with his ignorance. Socrates proceeds by trying to make him aware of his lack of knowledge, which counteracts to the wise man disliking him, and those hearing Socrates’ comments as well. These are his very first haters, and his very first realization that he holds a certain kind of wisdom because he’s more aware of his lack of wisdom and admits it, whereas the wannabe wise man believes that he is wise, tells others that he is wise, and doesn’t admit he is not when told, but his consciousnessShow MoreRelatedComparing Twentieth Century Political Thought Leo Strauss And Richard Rorty1421 Words   |  6 Pagesthe true ‘philosophers’ will clue into the work’s intricacies and subtle message. Strauss believes that it is necessary for philosophers to disguise their ideas due to a long history of pe rsecution against great thinkers. This list of those persecuted ranges from classical thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, to modern thinkers including Descartes, Spinoza and Kant, to name but a few. As a result Strauss claims that there must be a distinction between the masses, who are ruled by mere opinionRead MoreSocrates and the Apology1136 Words   |  5 Pagesbest sources of information about Socrates philosophical views are the early dialogues of his student Plato, who tried to provide a faithful picture of the methods and teachings of the great master. The Apology is one of the many-recorded dialogues about Socrates. It is about how Socrates was arrested and charged with corrupting the youth, believing in no god(s) (Atheism) and for being a Sophist. He attended his trial and put up a good argument. I believe that Socrates was wrongfully accused and should