Authoritarianism: 16 | |||
| More Democratic |   | More Authoritative | |
| |||
| More Laissez-Faire | | More Specific | |
| |||
| More Strict | | More Lenient | |
You are balanced between being authoritative and democratic
Your family is balanced between a democracy and the parent being authoritative when it comes to setting rules and expectations. You're sometimes a flexible parent, but you're also sometimes an authoritative parent when it comes to setting standards. You sometimes want to have open discussion with your children about the rules you set, but you also expect your children to obey those rules. You sometimes believe it is important for parents to make decisions for their kids with their best interests at heart.
You are specific
Whether you're an earth mother or a PTA president (or both!), you're every concerned with setting specific expectations for your kids' behavior. You do this both by telling them what to do and by acting as a role model, and, in general, you expect then to follow your careful guidance. As a parent, you think you should be very actively involved in fostering your child's growth, which includes determining what activities they should engage in -- sports, tutoring, music, chores, art, yoga, whatever. When it comes to everything from family meals to manners and morals, you know what's best.
You are balanced between being lenient and strict
As a parent, you've tried to strike a balance between being an overly lenient parent, and one who is too strict. You sometimes feel like you may need to tell your child what to do, but you also feel it's important to enforce the rules with your children. You may punish your child from time to time, but only when absolutely necessary because they've broken a rule one too many times. You want your child to understand why there are rules, but you also don't mind if they occasionally break them or have a minor infraction that needs no punishment.
