CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
“Getting angry is so easy, everybody is bound to become angry, but becoming angry at the correct person, to the correct degree, in the correct time, for correct reason in correct ways, is not easy”. (Goleman, 1995). This statement by Aristotle perhaps highlighted that conflicts are bound to arise among individuals, however great effort are bound to arise among individuals, however great effort is required in ensuring that when conflict arises it is dealt with accordingly with competence hence the need for parenting styles and attitude on student drinking. For generations past people have been: made to believe that parenting style will predict and determine how successful such an individual is in life. However, research finding will later disprove such believe with every emerging evidences show casing the importance of other type of parenting style. The further investigation of parenting style and related parameters.
Parenting style is defined as a child’s perception of his or her parent or care takers behaviour. Two important aspects of parenting styles are; the amount of affection and kindness that children experiences; and the amount of acceptance and control that is applied by parents (Baumrind, 1991). Within this dimension Baumrind presenting three behaviour pattern for parents and the fourth was suggested by Macoby & Martin, (1983) The four (4) are namely: Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive and Uninvolved Parenting. Children of Authoritative Parents show high self confidence and higher self- reliance. They have higher inclination towards personal independence and they can make decisions personally (Steinberg, 2001). Parents of this group of children believe that wrong behaviour of children are necessary for their mental maturity and confronting with the difficulties of adulthood period (Bahrami, 2009). Children of the Authoritarian parents seems worried, isolated, and dissatisfied, and have problems in coping with peers. Also in these children, pervasive hostility, anger and much disobedient to boys and girls abstaining of duties in girls is observed (Baumrind, 1991). These children are so much expecting and their training pattern is based on reproach. Severely, and lack of affection and kindness, since their parent expect the children to obey their commands indisputably. Thus, dialogue takes place less often between the children and their parents. If children of authoritarian parents do not obey their parents, they will experience punishment. (Leung & Kwan, 1998). Children of permissive parents avoid taking responsibilities and because their parent exercise affectionate behavior, these children do not learn patience and tolerance against hardships and adversities (Aunola, Stattin & Nurmi 2000). The Uninvolved style is a pattern of uninvolvement and little monitoring by parent with a child, uninvolved parents are of little emotion involvement with their children, but are responsive and demanding.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Though parenting, as a perception of parents of their own attitude towards attitude on student drinking to be a great disadvantage on the dynamics of behaviour for socio-psychological researches, how child perceives and should be deemed most important as he is the one whose process of socialization stands for furtherance (Bharadwaj, 1996). Individual experiences not only help in making the sense of Self-identity and self-ideal but may also lead him to percieve, think and act in a self-directed manner. So, it appears that child’s perception of parental attitude towards himself should be of great concern in the dynamics of behaviour.
Different parenting styles are being practice by different parents around the world and these different parental practices are considered to have strong effect on their children’s outcome. Racial differences in parenting practices have been a topic of considerable debate and controversy. Some researchers have found cultural differences between African-American and Caucasians parenting behaviors, specifically an increased use of corporal punishment within African-American Families (Graham, 1992).
Paul, (2006) Report that, African-American feel more pressure to have their children under control because of the prejudicial nature of American society. MeLoyd, Takeuchi, & Wilson (2000), have observed that how one ethnic group evaluates another groups parenting behaviors. They reported that parenting behaviours deemed typical by African-Americans were considered strict by Caucasian American parents.
Chan & Koo (2010) in their research believed that Chineses parents frequently used impulse control, conducted physical punishment, and discouraged children from being independent, active or exploratory. From these characteristics, the Chinese parenting style could be categorized as authoritarian parenting. They also believe that in the United States, it is observed that most of the parents practice the permissive style as opposed to that of Africa, which is more of the authoritative style. In Nigeria Y Wee (2012) observed that the most used style is also the authoritative and the authoritarian but with the century we are in many Parents have started practicing the permissive style too.
In addition, it was observed that, most of the studies done on parenting style and emotional intelligence have been directed towards American families and othe apart of the outside countries, but not in Nigeria, this can be said to be because of differences in the environment and also differences in our culture. Since culture has been found to affect people’s way of life, the question here is, would the parenting practices here in Nigeria also have a similar or a different effect on student drinking.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research question have been put forward in this study:
1. Does authoritarian parenting style have a relationship with children’s drinking habit?
2. Does authoritative parenting style correlate with children’s drinking?
3. Does permissive parenting style have an association with children’s drinking habit?