Analyzing an Article on The Best Style of Parenting

    Today I read an article called Tough Love Or Easy Living which was put together by the Better Help Editorial team. I was not able to find the exact author but this team is composed of professional researchers, writers, editors, and licensed therapists. This appealed to ethos because that makes this website a credible source. 

    The article first went over the most important guidelines to follow as parents and then discussed four styles of parenting including one that they claimed to be superior. This information is clearly directed at soon to be or new parents who are trying to provide the right assistance for their kids. In order to be an effective parent, readers are encouraged to give positive feedback, offer guidance, listen closely, and teach practical skills to their children. 

    An authoritative parenting style was recommended because all three other styles had been linked with negative outcomes. This approach is a form of pathos. The author is very convincing because they list the harms and attempt to discredit the other three options. Neglectful parents, adults who are not available for their children, are well known to be the most harmful. As seen in a study by the Children Society, neglectful parents have been linked to mental health issues, substance misuse, and early sexual activity. The other two styles were discouraged as well. Authoritarian parents, not to be confused with authoritative, are ones who establish strong leadership roles and can be dismissive of a children’s needs. This style was linked with kids developing Obsessive Compulsion Disorder in a research journal the author listed. The last style of parenting that this article discredited was permissive. The harm in this approach comes from a lack of correction which leads to issues with developing self control as shown in another study provided. 

    This persuasive article, most heavily relied pathos and logos. The emotion aspect serves incredibly important because parenting is a sensitive subject that has lasting implications. The authors perspective could not have been proven the same without the use meaningful sources that discredited alternative approaches. 

sources: 

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/10/05/child-psychologist-explains-why-authoritative-parenting-is-the-best-style-for-raising-smart-confident-kids.html

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2001.tb02349.x.

https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgrjcp/24/3/151.abstract.

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/troubled-teens-links-between-parenting-and-adolescent-neglect.

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/adolescence/tough-love-or-easy-living-which-parenting-style-is-most-effective-during-adolescence/