Which description best matches the authoritative parenting style?

Which description best matches the authoritative parenting style?

• A. Authoritarian
• B. Uninvolved
• C. Authoritative
• D. Permissive

Answer: (C)

Authoritative parenting balances warmth with clear boundaries. It describes parents who set and enforce reasonable rules, explain the reasons behind them, and listen to their child, encouraging independence and problem-solving. This mix of high responsiveness and firm structure helps children learn self-control, responsibility, and social competence. The other styles differ in warmth and structure: one is strict and controlling without warmth, one is disengaged and minimally involved, and one is very permissive but provides little in the way of boundaries.

Authoritative parenting balances warmth with clear boundaries. It describes parents who set and enforce reasonable rules, explain the reasons behind them, and listen to their child, encouraging independence and problem-solving. This mix of high responsiveness and firm structure helps children learn self-control, responsibility, and social competence. The other styles differ in warmth and structure: one is strict and controlling without warmth, one is disengaged and minimally involved, and one is very permissive but provides little in the way of boundaries.