Pros and cons of growing up with conservative parents

The family environment we grow up in and the parenting style we receive shape us. They affect the attitudes and values ​​we develop, the image we create of ourselves, and the way we learn to relate to others. Each educational style has its benefits and disadvantages. For this reason, today we want to explore how growing up with conservative parents affects us.

Knowing this information is relevant, of course, if we have children or plan to have them. And it is that It is important to be aware of how our actions will influence your life. But it is also very useful for understanding ourselves as adults. And if you were raised by conservative parents, this may have left an imprint on you.

Who are conservative parents?

It is not easy to make a single, well-defined definition of conservative parents, since they can differ in important aspects of personality and upbringing. However, are characterized by value and respect traditions, the hierarchy of age and a morality that is transmitted from parents to children.

When thinking about conservative people, we usually associate this concept with certain political and religious ideologies; However, these aspects do not always go hand in hand. In essence, being conservative implies a certain reluctance to change (personal and social) and a firm conviction that conventional morality is the most appropriate.

Now, these bases can manifest themselves to a greater or lesser degree and in very different ways. Not all conservative families are equally authoritarian, demanding or intransigent. However, there are some common points that affect the education of descendants.

Conservative parents firmly believe in conventional morality and pass it on to their children.

Advantages and benefits of growing up with conservative parents

Although conservative families today do not seem like good growing environments, they actually provide certain advantages and positive qualities to children. Among them the following stand out:

Affect and emotional expression

Although we typically associate conservative parents with strict parenting, in reality Some research has found that these tend to be affectionate parents. Firmness does not seem to be at odds in these cases with affection, which is a central part of the relationships between parents and children and is expressed through words of encouragement, physical contact and frequent expressions of affection.

I respect

Within traditional values, respect is one of the greatest pillars. So, Children who grow up in these environments generally They learn to be polite and kind and to relate appropriately to authority. In addition, an attitude of appreciation and admiration for older relatives is instilled, which allows for a very rich generational exchange.

Responsibility

The capacity of be responsible, hard-working and perseverant It can also be enhanced by growing up with conservative parents. Thus, children usually learn to take charge of their responsibilities, to fulfill their school and home obligations and to assume the consequences of their actions.

Boundaries

Besides, These types of parents are usually good at applying limits during the growth of their children.. They are more likely to delay, restrict, or monitor technology device use or dismissal times during adolescence. Furthermore, they advocate avoiding debauchery and experiencing each stage of growth at its own time.

Sense of belonging

Finally, the great value given to the family in this type of parenting makes it possible for children to develop a greater sense of belonging. The traditions and rituals and the greater time shared give rise to a great family cohesion that fosters this sense of group identity.

Disadvantages of growing up with conservative parents

Unfortunately, it’s not all advantages; And, in fact, there are various practices and attitudes in this type of family that are very harmful to the emotional development of children. The following are worth mentioning:

emotional repression

Despite being affectionate, it is likely that these types of parents mishandle children’s emotional expression. In this type of family, obedience and respect are sought; and tantrums, the expression of anger, disagreement or disgust on the part of children can be seen as intolerable offenses. In this way, instead of empathizing, understanding and accompanying, that expression is scolded, punished and repressed.

Lack of freedom in the formation of individuality

The parents They expect their children to adhere to certain values ​​and expectations and they do not usually give rise to the free formation of individuality. The attitudes of the children must be similar to those of the parents, as well as their vision of life and their future projection.

Depending on the degree of conservatism, it may be frowned upon in the family for a son to want to be an artist, for a daughter to want to work and remain single, or for one of them to have an ideology or religious position different from the family one.

One of the biggest disadvantages of this parenting style is the coercion and lack of freedom in terms of personal development.

Intolerance

In relation to the above, we can say that conservative families can become intolerant regarding certain aspects; an attitude that can reach high levels of damage in the event, for example, that the child has a sexual orientation that is different from the norm.

These attitudes are also transmitted to the children, who can develop racist, sexist and homophobic thoughts. Again, this does not have to happen in all cases, as every family is different.

physical punishment

Some studies have found that conservative (specifically religious) families They more frequently use physical punishment as a means of correction. This is in line with the search for obedience and the establishment of hierarchical and vertical relationships that prevail in these family environments.

The negative effects of physical punishment on children are well known and well documented. so this can generate significant emotional consequences.

Growing up with conservative parents makes us conservative people

As a last point, It is worth mentioning that growing up with conservative parents makes it more likely that children will end up adopting similar attitudes. This is shown by some research in which it is observed how children tend to identify with and introject the attitudes of the parent of the same sex.

Ultimately, it is up to each family to choose the educational style they wish to apply. However, it is important to be aware of how that choice can affect children and the future adults they will become.

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