Chapter 12

Summary
Chapter twelve discusses the parenting and child development. There are numerous benefits and costs to raising children. Taking on the role of a parent may often conflict with that of having a job. Role strain refers to the the conflicts within a role and may arise when one has unrealistic expectations, decreased authority, increased responsibility, and high parenting standards.Many believe in the myth that motherhood comes naturally; however, believing in this myth can lead to three problems: the assumption that a good mother will be perfect if she follows her instincts, the idea that there’s something wrong with a mother who doesn’t devote 100 percent of her time to her children, and it discourages other adult involvement, especially fathers. Fathers, too, can experience role conflict and strain. According to Gerson there are three types of fathers:
1. Breadwinners: fathers who view fatherhood in economic terms and see themselves as the primary earners.
2. Autonomous fathers: fathers who distance themselves from their spouse and children, usually occurs after a separation or divorce.
3. Involved fathers: fathers who forge satisfying relationships with their spouse and children in addition to extensively participating in their child’s day to day life.

Because parents are their child’s primary socialization agents, they largely influence their child’s development. Several theories attempt to explain child development:
1. Mead’s Theory of the Social Self argues that children learn through three stages: imitation, play, and games.
2. Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory maintains that all children pass through the same four stages, in the same order:sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
3. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory of Development explains that development encompasses the entire lifespan rather than just childhood and is comprised of eight stages: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. identity confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. self-absorption, and integrity vs. despair.

Parenting techniques vary by ethnicity and social class. For example, low socioeconomic status (SES) families may struggle with poverty and unemployment which results in fewer opportunities for their children. Because middle-SES parents have more resources they are able to enhance their child’s development. High-SES families are able to spend more on education, health care, and other expenses that will enhance their children’s lives. In addition to ethnicity and social class, parenting techniques change over the life course. Infancy is extremely stressful and tiring on a parent. Myths about babies can create unnecessary anxiety and guilt for parents. That being said, the quality of a child’s relationship with his/her parents and other caregivers strongly impacts their development. It’s important that a child receives “warm and responsive parental interaction” specifically during the first two years of a child’s life. Encouraging curiosity, creativity, and free play are also key to a child’s cognitive development. The parent-child relationship often greatly changes during adolescence because this is “a time of tremendous change”. A teenager is maturing and establishing their own identity and independence. It’s healthy for teenagers to break away from their parents' supervision during this period. However, it’s often a very trying time for their parents and can cause strain on their marriage. There are four general parenting styles:
1. Authoritarian: very demanding, ridgid, punitive and typically lack warmth and support.
2. Permissive: warm, responsive, and undemanding.
3. Authoritative: demanding, responsive and supportive. A number of studies suggest that this is the most effective and healthy style of parenting.
4. Uninvolved: neither supportive nor demanding; indifferent and can be rejecting.

What I Learned
I understand more about my parents by learning about the various parenting styles. My parents were definitely authoritative, but maybe on the stricter end of things. When I was a teenager, I didn’t understand why they were so demanding. However, as an adult, I appreciate the way they parented and I am very “self-reliant, achievement oriented, and successful in school” as the book suggests.

Question/Concern
I found the article about the Internet addiction centers in Beijing fascinating. Do you think that there is such a thing as Internet addiction, and if so should youth attend “rehabilitation”, or is this just a product of our generation?