Parenting Styles, History of

The concept of parenting styles is most strongly associated with the domain of psychology, but it is by no means confined to this field. It represents an effort to capture and describe the various ways in which parents relate to their children with a view to comparing the differences between individuals, cultures, and social groups. This entry begins by explaining the theory of parenting styles and continues with a discussion of the anthropological and sociological use of the term ‘parenting styles’ before moving on to explore the way in which the concept is used outside academia. The proliferation of parenting styles and the tendency of some parents to identify themselves through a particular approach to parenting is also considered.