Program: Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL & HUMAN STUDIES
Atlantic International University
April 30, 2021
Table of Contents
The Psychology of Parenting in African Demography and Comparison with First World Countries. 1
The psychology of parenting. 3
Authoritarian model of parenting: 4
Authoritative model of parenting. 5
Permissive parenting model of parenting. 5
Zero-involvement model of parenting. 6
Factors that influence parenting models and general psychology. 6
The African perspective of the psychology of parenting. 7
Mass parenting through the extended family. 8
Imparting the consciousness of heritage through oral communication and traditional rites. 10
The Psychology of Parenting in First World Countries. 14
The Psychology of Parenting in the United States of America 15
Introduction.
Being directly responsible for the birth of a child by biological standards makes an individual a parent, only by biological standards. The concept of parenting as acceptable globally stretches far beyond biological relationships to responsibility for the child’s upbringing until he or she is at least an adult by age.
Parenting, therefore, is used to describe extensively the elaborateness involved in the growth and development of a child, regardless of the biological connection that exists between the parent and child, if any. (Haim, 2017) According to a study conducted in the United States, many more children live in the custody of parents who are in no way connected to them biologically, apparently due to the rising number of divorce cases and child abandonment. At least 1 in 10 American children lived with a step-parent or were in child foster care programs. (20th Century Evolution of American Parenting Styles, 2015)
As cultural, ethical, and moral standards vary worldwide, so also approaches parenting, along with styles and principles of childbearing in different climes. Practices seen as extreme in some cultural settings are acceptable in others. Although this study does not strive to prove which parenting patterns are better, there is a great need for specific behavioral patterns in children to be explained, and one way is to analyze the whole psychological framework employed in the raising of the child.
Reputable International institutions such as UNICEF and WHO recognize the family as a basis for building blocks of society. The role of the family in the structure of society’s core values and beliefs can never be overemphasized. There is a famous saying that charity begins at home, which is valid for every setting and culture. Since the values and traits acquired by a child in his experiences with a family, of which the parents are an integral part, are likely to be borne by that child all through his life, even as he interacts with society, it is then easy to explain the behavior of children, if their situation at home can be understood, and if the parenting structure responsible for raising them is evaluated. (Brooks, 2012)
This research seeks to look into the psychology of childrearing in typical African societies and compare it to the methods of parenting in some First World, more advanced climes. Several research papers were written previously; mass media and social media are all methods used in sourcing the information contained in this research work.
Parenting is deliberate and, as such, is an activity that involves a great deal of demanding effort. An ideal child-raising project must be most effective in aiding and contributing significantly to the growth and betterment of both the mind and body. A child is born innocent, so it falls on his parents to prepare him fully for his interaction with the world, his home, and not being at a disadvantage. The responsibility falls on the parent to fully cater to the child’s basic needs in their care.
Justification.
Many parenting techniques and the psychology behind several decisions in childrearing in specific societal structures have damaging effects on children. Most of the effects these techniques have on children are unknown, especially within the social environment in question. Reliable information is hard to find, and helpful information harder. Today, many parents, especially in less developed countries, have been forced to depend on age-old traditions and the general opinion of their social environment as guides to raising their children. (McKay, 2006)
Studies have shown how dozens of families are emigrating from third world countries to first world civilizations experience a meaningful change, mostly in their internal structure that significantly conflicts with the ideals that reign supreme in African society. Old standards, like administering physical punishment, using the whip, are quickly dropped, primarily due to the existing laws governing First World societies, where children can sue parents in cases of physical abuse.
This research would inform and equip the public with adequate information to guide and maybe, influence their parenting psychology for the better. This kind of information is necessary as the role of parenting in the structure and improvement of societal standards can never be neglected. Societies with inadequate parenting standards are bound to produce children with a lot of unhealthy habits, according to Spera (2005).
General analysis.
The concept of parenting.
According to Brooks (2012), parenting transcends biological interrelationships, although most parent-child relationships are biological. Parenting encapsulates all skills, styles, and methods applied in rearing a child, preparing them for society, and developing the child’s physical stature, emotional framework, social maturity, and intellect.
The parent’s job begins from the moment the child is conceived and goes on all through the parent’s lifetime. The parents’ decisions can affect the unborn child; for instance, pregnant women are advised to stay away from several unhealthy habits for the safety of their children. While several factors influence the quality of parenting a child receives, it is essential to note that the ultimate goal of parenting is to do what is best for the child from the parent’s point of view.
As recognized by universal law, the child’s parents are the father and mother of a child (biological). The exceptions to the rule are in cases of orphaned children, abandoned children, in whose cases, guardians, foster parents, and surrogate parents carry out the role of parenting. Orphanages are also equipped to give standard childrearing to orphans and abandoned children.
The psychology of parenting.
While parenting can be physically demanding, it is even more tasking on the parents’ feelings, emotions, and mental structure. The psychological buildup of parents significantly impacts their parenting abilities, their handling of certain situations, and the general emotional atmosphere present in their homes. Psychologists seek to explain human behavior by studying the processes of the mind, how inference can be made that the core values of a person and his/her psychological makeup have a strong influence on the decisions and actions such an individual is likely to take when confronted with real-life situations, like the responsibility of rearing a child. (Schechter and Willheim, 2009)
The understanding and concept of parenting differ in different societies along cultural lines due to psychological differences since human psychology explains disparities in culture, traditions, and beliefs. In some societies, it is perfectly normal to declare a child independent at the age of 13, while in some, it is considered abuse. The general understanding of parenting in a region directly influences the smallest cell of society, individual families, to the point that immigrants are forced to adopt these methods as they (the methods) unconsciously govern the society. Such is the psychological effect on parenting that goes on to be established as norms.
In Native American cultures and many parts of Africa, it is common to see parents tell their children stories handed over generations. Such behavior has been handed over along with the stories and has been instilled in the subconsciousness of the parents. (Patricia, 2013)
The psychology of parenting can be better understood by analyzing the different models (approaches), skills, and factors affecting parental psychology.
Parenting models.
The approaches used in parenting differ across climes and cultures. A parenting approach is the sum of all actions and decisions that create an emotional atmosphere. Due to the differences in thinking patterns, influenced by the environment, cultural differences, and other factors, different models of parenting have been observed by psychologists after careful observation. (Joseph & John, 2008)
Authoritarian model of parenting:
As the word authoritarian implies, this particular parenting is built such that the parent has absolute power over the child’s actions and decisions and exercises their absolute authority, demanding obedience in everything. There is a set of rules never to be broken, and an inconsiderately high expectations are placed on the child. The authoritarian method affords the child little or no personal freedom, or choices to make, as decisions have already been made on their behalf. It also encourages corporal punishment, such as whip, cane, and spanking sessions, to punish disobedience against layer-down rules and dictates. In an authoritarian atmosphere, the child’s basic needs are met, leaving little or no room for side attractions like occasional presents and incentives. It is a very rigid parenting method, and children reared under such circumstances generally have low self-esteem, are moody, and display a high level of reluctance to break away from the norm. (Baumrind, 1983) However, they tend to follow the rules quickly and are in danger of being depressed and waiting to break free from the yoke of their parents. It is a military-esque style of parenting, demanding little or no involvement of the children. It is most common in traditional rural European and Asian communities and is fast fading away. (Joseph and John, 2008)
Authoritative model of parenting.
Psychologists have described this model as the most balanced and of great profit to both parents and children. In the authoritative parenting model, we see parents create boundaries for their children, with much consideration given to the child’s needs and wants, balancing their demands on the child, with a great deal of responsiveness on their part. The use of corporal punishment is either very rare or nonexistent, yet there is a great deal of parental involvement while affording the child some autonomy within certain boundaries created by the parent.
It is pretty common to see such a model in classical European and American society. Children brought up under such circumstances thrive easily in society, understand decision-making and responsibility early enough, and more maturity in handling life’s challenges. (20th Century Evolution of American Parenting Styles, 2015)
Permissive parenting model of parenting.
The authoritarian model places a higher demand on children and little response on the part of the parent, the authoritative model aims to strike a balance to allow for maximum productivity. However, the permissive model gives more priority to the autonomy enjoyed by the children, with the parents settling for explanations and round table discussions. The role of the parent in this model is to guide the child’s decisions, rather than make them, and it usually affords children too much freedom to do whatever they like, believing they only owe their parents an explanation afterward. Children produced from such systems generally lack the virtue of self-control.
Zero-involvement model of parenting.
Unlike all other models where there is at least some form of response and action on the part of the parents towards the development of their children, this model of parenting affords the child the autonomy to make decisions. Their parents either totally or almost neglect them due to the emotional or physical absence of their parents. Children raised in this manner are highly prone to be influenced by peer group pressure, leading them eventually to delinquent behavior. This is typical of single-parent homes.
Factors that influence parenting models and general psychology.
Psychologists have observed disparities in parenting approaches across different cultures and environments.
One of the primary factors that influence the parenting approach is culture. According to sociologists, culture is the phenomena that embody the way of life of a particular group of people, of which history, language, customs, traditions, dressing, dominant occupation, practices, etc., are essential elements. The role of culture in influencing parenting can never be undermined. A psychologist’s theory on parental investment explains how culture affects parents’ investment towards male and female children. In some cultural climes, the male gender is considered dominant; hence, there is more investment in his upbringing than in the upbringing of the female children, who are ‘left to their mothers’. Some cultures also inculcate the tradition of storytelling, as earlier mentioned, while others place importance on acquiring handiwork and craftsmanship, which can encourage children to seek an apprenticeship at a very young age. These practices are common to African cultures. (Patricia, 2013)
Another prevalent factor that affects parenting psychology is social status and wealth. In traditional European societies, mostly royalty and families with a history of affluence, the models of parenting likely to be practiced are an authoritarian model, as parents emphasize the order and the status of the family, and compare them against the choices of the children, with the family’s heritage being of more substance. Psychology comes into play here, a close study of Royal Families in European Society reveals, as this form of parenting is passed down generationally. Children are raised to uphold the status of their families, fitting into royal courts and circles, and generally, are deprived of the right to pursue their dreams outside of the family’s heritage and value system. This practice is common among high-class and royal families, regardless of culture and environmental distinctions. (Famlii, 2015)
Parenting styles can also be authoritarian at the lower echelons of societal structure. Due to the limited economic ability and resources available, parents place a high demand on their children and believe them to be their gateway out of poverty and lack. This can force them to tow the path of deciding for the child and enforcing their decisions on the child, regardless. Financial constraints can also lead to the unavailability of one or both parents. As such, the quality of parenting is grossly affected, and the child is exposed to rigors and vices of society by peer influence. There is also the tendency of absentia parenting due to the strain attached to making a living, especially in developing and underdeveloped economies. Lower-class parents are likely to work for more extended periods, putting them at a disadvantage in playing their role properly and to full effect. (McKay, 2006)
Middle-class families are more predisposed to authoritative and permissive models, as observed by psychologists. The availability of resources and the atmosphere of freedom created due to exposure and literacy of the parents afford the child a good landing pad in life.
The African perspective of parenting psychology
Parenting in African demography has core roots in history, culture, religion, and family values. There is a common saying that it takes a community to raise a child in Africa. Due to the communal structure of most African societies, especially rural ones, parenting is not limited to the biological parents of a child alone but is a role for fundamental elements of society to play. The psychology of parenting in Africa can then be described as richly intertwined with culture, the extended family, religious affiliation, and other structures that form the core of society. (Patricia Amos, 2013)
Mass parenting through the extended family.
The structure of the family highlights the nuclear and extended family setting. The nuclear family consists of parents and children. As the name implies, the extended family consists of all relatives to the nuclear family, by blood or by marriage. Uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, grand uncles and aunts, family, friends, etc. It is an essential element of society and one to which parenting is naturally assigned to. However, age-long values and cultural heritage in African communities emphasize the role of the extended family in the parenting of a child. (Amos, Patricia, 2013)
Considering the family structure in some parts of Nigeria, we see how a child’s upbringing is a collective effort of his extended family. In Igboland, Nigeria, from the infant stage, at the birth of the child, the mother of the child’s mother, that is, the child’s grandmother is expected to move in with them to help care and properly bathe the child in the tender stage, citing experienced hands. She is expected to spend at least one or two months taking care of the child while the mother recuperates. If the grandmother is unavailable, perhaps due to the distance between the rural and urban areas, or is deceased, an older woman from the mother’s family branch must play the role. The child is expected to recognize this person in later times as ‘the one who bathed you.’
As the infant grows, he is introduced to different family members from both family tree branches. In some parts of Eastern Nigeria, it is customary for the whole family to congregate at the end of the year or certain festive seasons for bonding purposes. Through these platforms, the child gets to know members of his extended family, and they as well get to contribute to his upbringing. It is not uncommon to have an uncle pay his nephew through Western education in Eastern Nigeria or for grandparents to insist that the children come to stay with them over the holidays. These systems are built to afford the extended family the liberty of contributing to the child’s rearing. It is also interesting to note how siblings assume the role of parents to their younger ones, especially an elder brother, who becomes responsible for his siblings’ education and carries on with the responsibility like it is entirely normal and expected of him. Well, according to the psychology of parenting in the core African society, it is. (Nicholas, 2013)
The extended family comes to the fore in marriage, for the girl or boy child. The marriage rites in African society are not the jurisdiction of the biological parents alone and all adult members of the extended family and even the kindred. In the case of the girl child, if the biological father is not present to give out her hand in marriage, the eldest male relative from the father’s branch of the family tree is required to oversee the whole process. These, and many more, explain the role of the extended family in parenting, exclusive to most African indigenous communities.
Religious affiliation.
The average African society is predominantly Christian, Muslim, or attuned to the African Traditional Religion and its many gods and goddesses. Most African families confess faith in one of these three main religions, and the tenets of the faiths have a significant influence on the emotional atmosphere in the household. The role of religion in the upbringing of a child is well pronounced.
In Christian homes, when a child is born, he or she is born into the church as well. The church presides over the child’s naming ceremony, and for male children, ensure their circumcision according to Christian beliefs. In this case, religion succeeds in parenting by influencing the child, such as naming and circumcision of the child. In Catholic climes, children are baptized into the church at a tender age, thus becoming a part of the church from childhood. Church structure in Africa is influenced by culture; hence, the child attends church with other children, in a separate class from his or her parents, with tutors responsible for teaching them the ways of God. These tutors also play a role in the child’s rearing as they instill godly morals and virtues from a tender age. Capital punishment is not rare in Orthodox church settings, and children can be punished for not partaking in activities or attending Sunday School. Elders and deacons also give advice, mental and financial support to children and their families, further strengthening the unit and playing a vital role in the child’s upbringing.
It is not unusual to see children being carried by force to mosques for afternoon and evening school, sometimes by the whip. Muslim parents are known to encourage their children to be schooled in an Islamic way from a tender age, and children are seen memorizing vast portions of the Quran, sometimes in front of a parent or elder, brandishing a long cane. They are taught to pray five times daily and to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. These values are instilled in children in line with the religious heritage of parents. Such religious impact weights the role of religion in the raising of a child. It is also not unusual for the children to be handed over to the custody of a cleric, who is tasked with mentoring them and guiding them in the holy way of Islam. This cleric also plays a pivotal role in instilling qualities in the children they would grow up with.
In families not affiliated with Christianity or Islam, parenting psychology is influenced by religious customs and traditions native to the African Traditional Religion. In communities in Western Africa, children are dedicated to God or goddess at birth and named by the initiates of such covens. At different ages of the child’s life, he or she Is required to perform certain rites to renew the affiliation and, at a certain age, is required to become a full initiate member. The coven rules guide the child’s lives so sacred that breaking them could lead to banishment or the family being ostracised.
Religious beliefs contribute to the mode of parenting in African homes, guiding the decisions being taken by the parent and children and influencing future choices and actions.
Imparting the consciousness of heritage through oral communication and traditional rites.
One component of good African parenting fast fading into oblivion is historical events and folktales to teach moral lessons and build value systems into the subconscious of young ones. (Patricia, 2013)
Year’s past, it was custom for children to sit by the fire, under the moonlight, after the night’s meal, to listen to folktales told them by a particular elder in the community, one with, mainly, loveable nature. This adult and his or her regular storytelling become an integral feature of the child’s life, and he or she forms a bond with the storyteller, a bond through which virtues and morals are passed.
In Ghanaian culture, Kwaku Ananse, the Great Spider, is the hero of most of the stories, while in Yoruba culture, it is Japan, the Tortoise, known for his greed, cunning, and exceptional wisdom.
A famous Ijapa story is translated from the Yoruba language:
Once upon a time, Tortoise and his wife lived in a village on the outskirts of town. They had no children, and it was a source of shame to them in the whole village.
Tortoise traveled far and wide, searching for solutions to his wife’s unfaithfulness, but found none until he came upon a great medicine man who promised to help Tortoise. He was asked to come back in seven days to collect the treatment on behalf of his wife.
On the seventh day, Tortoise returned to the shrine of the medicine man, who gave him a large pot filled with sweet-smelling soup for his wife and her alone to eat. He was asked to carry it home and never to attempt tasting it.
After bearing it on his head for a while, Tortoise, unable to control his gluttony, decided to taste the soup. It was too sweet for him to resist, and he ended up eating all of it upon tasting it!
Moments later, his stomach swelled up like that of a pregnant woman, and the Tortoise was in great pain. He rushed back the way he came to the medicine man for a remedy. He sang a song that goes thus:
Medicine man, I have come to beg.
The medicine you prepared for me the other time.
You asked me not to touch, not taste.
I slipped and fell, and my hands were covered in soup, and I put it in my mouth.
My stomach swelled like it was about to burst.
Medicine man, what can I do?
The medicine man had no answer to Tortoise’s predicament, and because men could not give birth, Tortoise died an excruciating death as his stomach burst open!
(Translated from Alawiiye-for Primary Schools, Macmillan Publishers, Nigeria)
This Yoruba story has vital lessons for children. It teaches them to obey instructions and not to covet things that do not belong to them. The folktale sessions are core parts of African parenting that play a vital role in imparting good qualities, as children generally respond well to stories.
Apprenticeship.
Skill acquisition is highly encouraged in most African communities. Children are encouraged to learn a trade alongside formal schooling to give them a strong launchpad in life upon adulthood. While skill acquisition is of interest, what is more, is the role the apprenticeship period plays in parenting in Africa, mostly in West African communities.
In Eastern Nigeria, from a young age, boys are sent off to live and work with a respected member of the community, who is established in a particular trade, automobile repair, for instance. The quality of tutoring the child receives throughout his stay and the learning period helps in the mental and general development of the child, a role parenting plays. Structures such as this make the African psychology of parenting a unique, fitting description: ‘a single hand does not raise a child.’ (Apanpa, 2002)
The role of father.
Fathers are, first and foremost, the highest authority figures in a typical African family. (Apanpa, 2002)
The average African father is expected to cater to the needs of his immediate and sometimes extended family, instill discipline and inspire respect in children, and be a model figure. It is not uncommon to hear African mothers say to a child: “You just wait until your father gets home,” when the child does something wrong. It is expected that the father maintains the balance of discipline in his family.
He is expected to put his family first and works tirelessly to meet their needs. As a result, the structure and expectation of the average African family, in most cases, the life expectancy of fathers, is lower than that of mothers in Africa and even the world at large.
The absence of fathers in the family structure tends to have adverse effects on the upbringing of children. An absent or uninvolved father creates an atmosphere of indiscipline in the home, and children tend to engage in deviant behavior as a result. Security agencies report that a significant percentage of young persons arrested for deviant behavior and crimes have, at one point in their lives, been deprived of the influence of a father in their upbringing.
The role of mother.
All over Africa, mothers are recognized as home builders, whose roles in childrearing are fundamental to the proper emotional, moral, and physical development of the African child. From conception, parenting begins for the mother, as she is required in the gestation period to put the health and well-being of the baby first, cutting down on specific intakes and reducing stress levels. Upon childbirth, the onus falls on the mother to care for the child’s basic needs, like feeding, grooming, and companionship. From breastfeeding, a highly regarded practice common to most African communities, to weaning, the mother is pivotal to the child’s early mental development and physical growth. Children who were exclusively breastfed for at least six months to a year have shown more brain and body development than children who were taken off breastfeeding early. (Patricia, 2013)
In typical African families, since the father’s role takes him outdoors, the mother remains to take care of the child and the home, spending quality time, bonding, and impacting necessary morals for the child. In Africa, when a child is guilty of misbehavior, the mother is first blamed.
The absence or lack of a mother’s involvement in the rearing of a child can leave him scarred all his life. First, from infanthood, children who lose their mothers at tender ages have some traces of mental stress and loneliness and can also turn out lazy, less domesticated, and unorganized.
In some African societies, it is a bad omen for a child to lose his mother at birth, and situations are much more favorable when the father is absent than an absence of the mother.
Sadly, due to the influence of modernization and growing economic constraints, we have seen the roles of both mother and father affected due to the pressure of making ends meet, especially in low-class families. Mothers in today’s world are now tasked with making a living to support the family, hampering their ability to perform their parenting roles properly, and as a result, the rate of social decadence keeps rising. (Apanpa, 2002)
The Psychology of Parenting in First World Countries.
First, World countries, developed advanced economies with better opportunities, infrastructure, and prospects for children than lesser-developed countries have different parenting skills than African societies.
Studies have shown, and previous subheadings in this paper have revealed that parenting styles, methods, and psychology differ across different cultures, societies, and most importantly, economies. (Baumrind, 1971)
In historical times, there was a great vacuum between the quality of parenting in noble and highly placed families and the quality prevalent among commoners. Such was the disparity in the availability of financial resources that the likelihood of absent fathers or parents in the upbringing of commoner children was relatively high. In ancient times, authoritarian and uninvolved parenting models were most prevalent among nobles and commoners. Due to scarce resources, the commoners were used to affording children independence early in life, while in noble families, the word of the head was the law, no matter what the children felt, and thus, their paths in life were made for them.
In recent times, however, the economic atmosphere in developed countries has gone from a monarchial pattern to a more capitalist approach, leveling the playing field and affording opportunities for a majority of the population to live above the poverty mark. As a result, the approach to parenting has changed drastically, with authoritative and permissive models of parenting favored by significant portions of the population. (Lassonde, 2017).
The Psychology of Parenting in the United States of America.
A perfect case study of a First World country, childrearing in America is regarded as a responsibility of the immediate parents, the society, and in the absence of parents, the government through foster care and child support programs.
The psychology of parenting in America today is unique. The family structure supports the regular nuclear family, multi-partner families, same-sex parents, single parenting, foster parenting, and many other family types resulting in different styles and methodologies of childrearing.
Communal child raising is still a practice in some parts of America, especially in the country. Small communities where the members all have good relationships with one another tend to assume responsibility for the parenting of children within the town. Children are watched by neighbors, mentored by teachers, church leaders, and even their friends’ parents. They are virtually raised by the whole community and properly integrated such that it becomes a unit, like the extended family system in Africa. It is interesting to note that children are afforded autonomy within the boundaries of their parents’ rules in this case. The parenting model popular in communal settings is the authoritative model. (Lassonde, 2017)
While value systems in small-town settings may not have degraded so rapidly over the years, the same cannot be said for cities and metropolitan areas, where the large population gives rise to a high crime rate and encouragement of deviance. Parenting is more tasking, and parents’ work schedules have adverse effects on their roles as parents. The permissive parenting model is prevalent in such environments, as parents are too busy to spend time with their children, so parenting is done with the use of tech devices and the internet, and in most cases, the parent gets explanations after actions are taken and not prior. It has caused many deviant behaviors and negative peer influences that are unhealthy for a child’s development. In parts of America, it is almost expected for adolescents to have engaged in premarital sex, substance intake, and alcohol consumption; this is due to permissive parenting and low responsiveness on the part of the parents, mainly due to their unavailability. This cuts across the economic class, as both the rich and poor, are affected. (Day, N., 2013)
Another critical aspect of parenting psychology in America is that parents employ other means of punishing wrongdoing, apart from the capital punishment method. The governing laws strictly protect children against the use of force by their parents, and there have been cases where parents have had to spend jail time for defaulting. Parents have had to settle for more humane measures of curbing the excesses of their children, like grounding, cutting off allowances, and privileges for a short period.
Interestingly, however, since the turn of the century, an intensive form of parenting has become familiar to First World societies. This model prioritizes spending quality time with children, more resources, and full involvement in their learning and development. Perhaps influenced by the increasing economic advantage, more parents in First World countries are beginning to emphasize their role as parents, not child raisers alone. (Day, 2013)
Discussion.
Comparing The Psychology of Parenting in Africa to the Parenting Psychology in First World Countries.
| Comparison basis. | Parenting psychology in African Demography. | Parenting psychology in First World economies. |
| Cultural influence. | Significant forms the base upon which parenting is structured, as traditions passed down from generations are still relevant today. | Agelong cultural norms have been abandoned as a more civilized approach, and relevant standards have been adopted. |
| Parenting style favored. | Mostly favor authoritarian models, authoritative models in educated communities, and uninvolved parenting in less privileged societies. | Most favor authoritative and permissive models of parenting. |
| Challenges | Lack of adequate resources.Deprioritising of cultural values.Increasing adoption of Westernized culture. Ignorance. | It gives more room and encourages deviant behavior due to the early independence afforded to children.Encourages positive behavior and success mentality, as children are afforded opportunities to explore. |
| Dominant family structure. | Nuclear and extended family setting. | Nuclear family. |
| View on single parenting. | Does not encourage single parenting due to cultural values and heritage. | Encourages single parenting, as well as same-sex parent households. |
| Economic influence. | Parenting styles and methods favored are influenced by the minimal resources available, the rural environment, the scarce opportunities for the next generation, and inadequate healthcare systems. | Parenting models favored are influenced by the availability of more resources, better healthcare systems, and more opportunities for the next generation. |
METHODS
The survey method of research will be used to collect data in this report. It will, however, be performed by semistructured oral interviews and the distribution of questionnaires. A descriptive study was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods such as frequency and percentages to compare parenting in first-world countries and parenting in developing countries like Nigeria. The stratified random sampling approach will be used for this analysis, as it is focused on research aimed at gathering data from different strata and segments of Nigerian society. With the cognitive content analysis, the collected data will be analyzed and presented. The analyzed data was then presented in descriptive statistics, primarily frequencies and percentages, in a frequency distribution. Since parenting is more like an abstract concept that requires a great deal of introspection and analytical performance, the data will be primarily presented in qualitative means, with the content analysis used to state conclusions and draw inferences.
RESULTS
Using data gathered from local Nigerian communities, this study’s findings revealed a major societal issue emerging from the rise in parenting in Africa, particularly Nigeria. Truancy, low academic results, an explosion of drug and alcohol abuse, and violent and thuggish tendencies are some of the negative consequences of parenting methods adversely affected by economic hardships and deviation from cultural values.
Actualization.
The average parenting psychology in Africa, although culturally unique, is being influenced by adversity that forces it to produce inconsistent results. The findings in this work can be utilized as literature for researchers and students seeking to explain the phenomenon of parenting by African standards. The government and well-meaning nonprofit organizations should utilize them in addressing the growing concerns about the economy, the rising crime rate among young people, high rates of child abandonment, care for orphans, and provision of adequate mental health support for parents and children alike.
Parents can also take advantage of this information to checkmate the excesses in their parenting approach.
Conclusion.
Although plagued by economic hardships and social decadence, the African psychology of parenting compares favorably with the parenting approach prevalent in more advanced climes. It emphasizes discipline, care, commitment, the desire to impart morals, and an integral element of society.
Excesses abound, nonetheless, as African children are not afforded the opportunity of exploration and choosing their path as much as their counterparts in First World countries. Many African parents seek to forge their child’s path for them, encouraging rebellious behavior.
The family structure is fundamental to society, and parenting is an integral aspect of the family, affecting its structure to the degree of either strengthening or breaking up. Core African parenting skills, systems, and values are essential to the continuity of African society and the preservation of core African dreams. Increased emphasis on culture and cultural education is advised in all strata of African society.
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