One of the most thoroughly studied areas in developmental psychology, parenting plays an integral role in the growth of a child and the establishment of behaviors and emotional responses. In particular, certain parenting styles tend to produce children who share a number of similar personality traits. In the permissive parenting style, which is sometimes called indulgent parenting, parents make few demands of children and generally fail to punish bad behavior except in extreme cases. Permissive parents typically allow for a great deal of self-regulation and avoid confrontation, thus making the parent-child relationship more like a friendship than in other parenting styles.
Children in permissive households tend to exhibit greater impulsiveness than their peers in more authoritative environments. Adolescents who grew up with permissive parents struggle to control their behavior, mostly because their parents never required them to practice this skill. As such, adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use and binge drinking. However, many children from permissive households grow up to be independent, emotionally secure adults.
Children in permissive households tend to exhibit greater impulsiveness than their peers in more authoritative environments. Adolescents who grew up with permissive parents struggle to control their behavior, mostly because their parents never required them to practice this skill. As such, adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use and binge drinking. However, many children from permissive households grow up to be independent, emotionally secure adults.