Do you know how to be authoritative without becoming authoritarian?
An AUTHORITATIVE Parent or Teacher. . .
- Respects and is accountable to higher authorities; is secure and confident in his relationships with higher authorities
- Communicates warmth and love for those under his authority
- Talks to the children, not at them, and also takes time to listen to them.
- Makes clear rules with clear consequences, and follows them consistently
- Sets a good example for children, both in and out of their presence
- Keeps informed on the interests and activities of the children; monitors their lives, communicates concerns and stays with their problems long enough to resolve them
- Is imaginative, with a vision for what the children can become; finds creative ways of helping them reach these goals
- Produces children who are socially responsible, competent and capable of social initiative, and who have positive feelings about authority that make them willing to trust the ultimate authority of God.
- Avoids accountability to higher authorities and is often critical of them; OR uncritically accepts and supports higher authoritarian structures
- Scores low in both warmth and communication;
- Sets high demands with high controls for children, but is either abusive or inconsistent in enforcing them; instills fear in children
- Has a private life that violates what he professes publicly; OR is rigid or excessively disciplined and demands the same from others
- Distances himself emotionally and physically from children by escaping into his job or other pursuits; may compensate for this by indulging children with material gifts
- Produces children who are hostile, negative and defiant; OR children who feel inadequate and pressured and believe no one will love them unless they do something good for them.
