Question 15

The authoritarian style of parenting is characterized by parents expecting obedience and adherence to rules.

Authoritarian parenting, as defined by Baumrind's model, places a strong emphasis on obedience and strict adherence to rules set by the parents, often without room for negotiation or dialogue.

A) The parents are disengaged from their children.

This option describes a neglectful or uninvolved parenting style rather than authoritarian. Authoritarian parents are typically very involved but enforce rules rigidly, so this characterization does not apply.

B) The parents expect their children to be obedient and follow all of the rules the parents have made.

This statement accurately reflects the essence of authoritarian parenting. Such parents prioritize obedience and compliance with their established rules, often valuing discipline over emotional connections with their children.

C) The parents are supportive but not overbearing and allow their children to make constructive mistakes.

This description aligns more closely with an authoritative parenting style, which is known for being nurturing and supportive while still maintaining high expectations. Authoritarian parents do not typically allow for mistakes or encourage independence in the same way.

D) The parents have expectations of their children that are below what could reasonably be expected from them.

This option pertains to a permissive or neglectful parenting style, where expectations are low or absent. In contrast, authoritarian parents have high expectations, although they often do not allow flexibility in how those expectations are met.

Conclusion

Option B is definitively correct as it encapsulates the core characteristics of authoritarian parenting, which is rooted in demanding obedience and compliance. All other options misrepresent the authoritarian style by either describing different parenting approaches or failing to capture the strict nature of rule enforcement that defines authoritarianism.