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Adolescent involvement in discipline decision making
Virginia M DeRoma1, Kerry S Lassiter, Virginia A Davis
1Psychology Department, The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Behavior Modification
|April 24, 2004
Summary
Involving adolescents in discipline decisions and focusing on parental impact, not adolescent inconvenience, fosters better parent-child relationships and compliance. This approach enhances fairness and respect in disciplinary interactions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Family Studies
Background:
- Parenting strategies significantly influence adolescent behavior and relationship quality.
- Discipline approaches vary in their focus on adolescent input and the perceived impact of misbehavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how adolescent involvement in discipline decisions affects their perceptions.
- To examine the impact of focusing on parental versus adolescent inconvenience in discipline.
Main Methods:
- High school students (N=95) viewed discipline vignettes with varying adolescent involvement and impact focus.
- Participants rated closeness to parent, perceived fairness, respect, anger, self-esteem, and willingness to comply.
Main Results:
- Higher adolescent involvement in decision-making led to more favorable ratings.
- Discipline focusing on parental inconvenience, rather than adolescent inconvenience, yielded better outcomes.
- Adolescents reported feeling more respected and less angry with greater involvement.
Conclusions:
- Encouraging adolescent participation in discipline decisions is crucial for positive outcomes.
- Framing discipline around parental impact promotes greater acceptance and respect.
- Effective discipline strategies should prioritize adolescent voice and parental well-being.