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In order to fully explore the consequences of an authoritarian parent one must first understand the definition of an authoritarian parent and the definition of other types of parenting. There are three basic kinds of parenting styles according to Diana Baumrind.

The first is the "permissive "parent. The permissive parent offers the child no boundaries or guidelines, the majority of the time they are free to do as they please. The "authoritative" parent, the best form of parenting, creates a balance for the child as discipline is used instead of punishment. The child has choices and is allowed to make them within reasonable boundaries and there are consequences to their actions. The "authoritative" parent offers the child little or no choices and try to control most every aspect of what their child does. Punishment is the primary technique used by authoritarian parents.

Now we can reenter the subject of what are the consequences of authoritarian parenting. Children that are raised by authoritarian parents suffer the consequences as many studies show. The exception would be in countries with little societal changes. For example, a country whose primary means of survival is agriculture where there is little or no need to "think outside the box" if you will. In a more developed country, such as the United States, there are heavy consequences to authoritarian parenting.

I worked with a young child, he was 3, and was an emotional basket case. He had been living in a car with his addicted mother and 3 sibling and had been placed in foster care with his aunt and uncle. He along with his siblings were being physically abused by their aunt and uncle. Several calls to Family Services never produced a positive outcome. The point is that this child would cry over things that no child should have to cry over. For example, if he had an accident at nap time he would wake up crying begging me not to tell his mom (he called his aunt mom) because she would spank him. That coupled with the many other comments and physical evidence that was apparent on his little body, made me put him in extra clothes and wash the ones that were soiled. I would then change him back into the previously soiled clothes before his mom came to get him. I would never tell his mom he had an accident. He was frightened as children of authoritarian parents often are.

I do not mean to imply that those that use authoritarian parenting are always abusive, but there is a very fine line there. Many children that

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