Parental Discipline Practices Associated With Preventing Children’s Aggressive and Immoral Behavior

Abstract

This chapter examines the links between three forms of parental control (helicopter parenting, behavioral control, psychological control) and child moral development during emerging adulthood. It focuses on parental discipline, including inductive reasoning, as one way that parents accomplish the goals of preventing aggression and promoting prosocial behavior. First, a systematic review of the limited literature is provided to illustrate a negative link between these three related yet unique types of controlling parenting and child adjustment outcomes (e.g., psychological, behavioral, moral). Next, given the lack of research on the topic, results of a series of exploratory analyses are presented that reveal associations between parental control and various aspects of emerging adults’ moral development. The findings are generally consistent with previous research in that parental control during emerging adulthood was found to be negatively related with child moral outcomes, including moral cognitions, emotions, and behavior. Finally, future directions for research are discussed that point to the need for further examination of helicopter parenting and its measures, related aspects of parenting, and moral outcomes.