A practical example of the permissive parenting style is the handling of bedtime. Instead of setting and enforcing specific bedtime rules, a permissive parent might allow the child to choose their own bedtime, even during a family vacation, reflecting the low-demand and child-led nature of this approach.

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In the permissive parenting style, children have significant control, as parents make few demands and seldom use punishment. These parents are typically very nurturing and loving, often adopting the role of a friend rather than a traditional authority figure.

Permissive Parenting

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Scenario: Child does poorly on their math tests.
Response: Parent doesn’t pay attention to the news, and if they do, they give it little attention. They may say something along the lines of “that’s alright, there’s always next time” or “well, that’s too bad”. They won’t take any action to help correct the poor test results.

Hypothetical Permissive Parenting Scenario

Example of Permissive Parenting: Bedtime Rules

Children raised by permissive parents may exhibit a mix of positive and negative outcomes. Negatively, they can lack self-discipline, which is associated with lower grades and a higher risk of engaging in behaviors like alcohol abuse, risky sexual activity, and disruptive conduct. Positively, they also tend to report higher self-esteem, possess better social skills, and experience lower levels of depression.

Outcomes of Permissive Parenting

A 10-year-old child wants to stay up two hours past his usual bedtime on a school night to play a video game, even though he has an important test the next morning. His parent, who prioritizes being a friend to their child and avoids conflict, says, 'Okay, but try not to be too tired tomorrow!' Based on this interaction, which of the following outcomes is most likely for a child consistently raised with this approach?

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