Conservative Protestant Childrearing: Authoritarian or Authoritative?

American Sociological Review, Vol. 63, pp. 796-809, 1998

Posted: 2 Oct 2006

Abstract

Recent research on conservative Protestantism suggests that religion has reemerged as an important predictor of childrearing attitudes and practices. This research has focused on the distinctive approach toward discipline among conservative Protestant parents. No study, however, has explored the links between conservative Protestantism and positive parental emotion work (physical and verbal expression of affection). I suggest, paradoxically, that this subculture is characterized by both strict discipline and an unusually warm and expressive style of parent-child interaction. I review parenting advice offered by conservative Protestant leaders, which encourages parents to engage in positive emotion work with their children. I then analyze data from the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) to determine if religious affiliation and theological conservatism are related to positive parental emotion work. I find that parents with conservative theological beliefs are more likely to praise and hug their children than are parents with less conservative theological views. Modest positive net effects of conservative Protestant affiliation are also found.

Keywords: conservative Protestant, childrearing, discipline, emotion work, parenting style, childrearing attitudes, affection, theological conservatism,

Suggested Citation

Wilcox, W. Bradford, Conservative Protestant Childrearing: Authoritarian or Authoritative?. American Sociological Review, Vol. 63, pp. 796-809, 1998, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=933976

W. Bradford Wilcox (Contact Author)

University of Virginia ( email )

1400 University Ave
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.virginia.edu/sociology/peopleofsociology/bwilcox.htm

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