While most parents will identify their offspring as having moments where it is simply to compel them into doing anything, some of them have this as an innate behavior. The process of parenting has become one that many fear with a huge population even swearing off it. However, becoming a parent is one of the most important responsibilities any human being can have. The individual has the duty to bring up the child in accordance to good morals. Others identify the first child as a point for making mistakes before getting it right in the third or subsequent offspring. At a time when corporal punishment is strictly discouraged and families have less than two children, it is essential to get it right in the first try. However, majority of parents underestimate their roles as influential beings in the life of the young one. Individuals should develop basic skills of parenting, but even superior ones for those whose children have brain abnormalities. In an effort to cope with these challenges parents should understand the factors that bring about difficult temperaments, the associated mental illnesses, and effective parenting styles.
Factors Causing Difficult Temperaments
Understanding the causes of difficult temperaments is the integral factor towards making efforts that will lead to behavioral improvement. Research shows that each child has distinct traits and patterns of behavior that influence their response to the events in daily living. This factor is the child’s temperament, which also determines the expression and regulation of emotions. Approximately 10% to 20% of children are born with a difficult temperament. In this regard, the extent of a child being “difficult” usually depends on the genetic makeup and neurological dispositions (Sangawi, Adams, & Reissland, 2015). The research in the recent decades has identified the significant influence that biological factors have on the violent and antisocial behaviors. The inherited genetics from either of the parents may bring about undesirable personality making it difficult to parent the child (Gau, & Chang, 2013). Brain anomalies in terms of chemistry and anatomy may also influence the formation and maintenance of behavioral tendencies.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
It is important to note that the biological and neurological factors that lead to these temperaments do not occur in isolation. In this case, psychosocial and the physical environment plays a critical role in the development of a difficult child. Behavioral psychologists recognize the impact of events such as single parent family, poverty, physical contact, social responsiveness, and verbal stimulation lead to the creation of challenges that parents usually experience (Tavassolie, Dudding, Madigan, Thorvardarson, & Winsler, 2016). For instance, children who lack appropriate physical contact from the caregiver, in most cases the mother, are more likely to accelerate the biological factors of negative behaviors (Gau, & Chang, 2013). Additionally, women who smoke during the pregnancy significantly affect the child after birth leading to development of issues such as aggression, impulsivity, hypertension, and inattentiveness. These examples show how behaviors of the mother and the influences of the environment lead to the difficult children.
Associated Mental Illnesses
Brain chemistry and anatomy has played an integral factor to the development of a difficult child. In this regard, complications occurring before and after birth may significantly influence the occurrence of mental illnesses. Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental disorders associated with difficult children. This illness affects the child’s ability to think, feel, and act normally (Gau, & Chang, 2013). In this regard, the individual patient may have trouble in distinguishing reality from imaginary events. It is important to note that schizophrenia should not be regarded as an occurrence drawn from poor parenting styles. Contrarily, the disease is may arise from genetic and biological abnormalities in the parent. Distorted development of the brain structure during pregnancy or an imbalance in neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin may lead to irregular responses to environmental stimuli (Tavassolie et al., 2016). It is important to note that majority of the children suffering from schizophrenia are not violent.
Another mental illness associated with difficult temperaments in the child is the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The individual suffering from this illness demonstrates three primary factors of a brain disorder including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children may experience difficulty maintaining focus or disorganization, excessive fidgeting in inappropriate situations, and hasty action without consideration of possible harm (Gau, & Chang, 2013). As a result, the child may pose a threat not only to themselves, but also to those around them. The occurrence of the disorder lack focused motor activity that diminishes the quality of social functioning. Close observation of such children is essential to prevent adverse impacts from taking place (Sangawi, Adams, & Reissland, 2015). The occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the early life of a child may influence the development of a difficult temperaments. This illness identifies exposure to stressful situations and events including physical and sexual abuse, loss of a parent, neglect, domestic violence, and war may lead to antisocial behaviors. The child may demonstrate lack of regard for authority or completely refrain in social activities.
Parenting Styles
In an effort to cope with the challenges that come with becoming a parent, it is essential that one or both caregivers develop significant techniques of reducing the undesired behavior. When children begin to misbehave, parents usually resort to threats, harsh punishment, and psychological control. Though majority of the society believe in such practices, research shows they are ineffective in ensuring long-term improvement of behavior (Sangawi, Adams, & Reissland, 2015). The authoritarian parenting, which most parents prefer, incorporates strict and unwavering enforcement of rules making children forcefully take up good behavior and suffer shaming or punishments when they do not uphold the same. However, the lack of appropriate communication between the parent and the child may develop into antisocial behavior like bullying and emotional problems like anxiety and low-self esteem (Sangawi, Adams, & Reissland, 2015). In light of such occurrences, the described parenting style does not provide effective measures of coping with the difficult temperament of the child.
Psychologists advocate for the use of the authoritative style of parenting in raising children. The method is similar to that of the authoritarian style where the parent sets limits for the child and enforces the rules appropriately. However, the distinction is evident between the behavior of the caregiver and responses to the child’s temperament (Sangawi, Adams, & Reissland, 2015). The individual employing this parenting technique identifies the importance of setting an example by demonstrating the behavior that the caregiver wishes to impart. A parent cannot tell the child to refrain from rude exclamation or shouting when angry when he or she does the same in similar situations (Tavassolie et al., 2016). The authoritative caregiver also recognizes the child as an independent rational being with the ability to make a choice. In this regard, the two demonstrate a cooperation and maturity when dealing with issues of behavior. The parent identifies reasons why the behavior is unacceptable and alternative measures to employ. Such practices ensure emotional support and recognition of the child’s feelings as important.
Conclusion
The difficult child is one who gives his or her parents a hard time understanding the nature of feelings or thoughts taking place. The above research has shown that each child is born with a unique way of coping with daily events and expressing their emotions. However, biological, behavioral, and physical impacts may significantly affect the occurrence of such behavior. In severe cases, biological anomalies occurring in conjunction with the latter two results in the development of mental illnesses that make a child even more difficult to control. Authoritative style of parenting offers an appropriate measure over authoritarian techniques as it ensures a dialogue between the caregiver and the child. The improvement of behavior becomes a personal choice of the child and not coercion by the parent.
References
Gau, S. S. F., & Chang, J. P. C. (2013). Maternal parenting styles and mother–child relationship among adolescents with and without persistent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34 (5), 1581-1594.
Sangawi, H., Adams, J., & Reissland, N. (2015). The effects of parenting styles on behavioral problems in primary school children: a cross-cultural review. Asian Social Science., 11 (22), 171-186.
Tavassolie, T., Dudding, S., Madigan, A. L., Thorvardarson, E., & Winsler, A. (2016). Differences in perceived parenting style between mothers and fathers: Implications for child outcomes and marital conflict. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25 (6), 2055-2068.
