Negating Style

To negate means to regard a thing as inexistent or to deny it. A negating style of education is also called neglecting style. The reason for this is that parents deliberately do not take any part in the upbringing of their children.

The parents are indifferent and disinterested towards the child and leave it to itself. Negatively brought up children do not know any support in their development. Neglect often causes severe physical and psychological damage to the children.

The children are alone and have problems in their social environment, in kindergarten and at school. They experience neither support and security nor rules or limits. Unfortunately, in practice, a neglectful parenting style is often associated with physical violence in the family.

The disadvantages of this style are enormous. The children can suffer from a lack of nutrition and hygiene, have great difficulty in bonding and often develop no self-esteem. They are conspicuous for their conspicuous social behavior and show severe deficits at school. In adulthood, they suffer particularly from emotional inaccessibility and are susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse. They often find it difficult to fit into social life and to fit into hierarchies.

Comparison of advantages and disadvantages

The autocratic style of education is based on obedience and total acceptance. The children do what their parents say and do not question the rules. An advantage is that the children can settle in well in hierarchies later in their professional life.

However, the disadvantages outweigh this. Children who are brought up autocratically rarely develop creativity or initiative. They are used to doing what they are told.

Children often develop inferiority complexes. They have less self-confidence than other children and often tend to reduce their insecurities through aggressive behavior.In school, for example, these children tend to go after the weaker ones because they don’t know any other way and don’t know how to express their feelings. With the authoritarian style of education, there is a cool climate between the educator and the child.

The educator is impersonal and decides alone about everything. It severely restricts the children in their behavior and makes them dependent on the educator. A big disadvantage is that spontaneity and creativity of the child are hardly or not at all encouraged.

In groups, children who are brought up in an authoritarian way often show aggressive and oppressive behavior towards other children. In contrast, the democratic style of upbringing is very opposite. Educators and children make decisions together and the children are encouraged to act independently and solve problems independently.

In the democratic style of education, the educator praises and criticizes the children in a factual and constructive manner, so that a high degree of creativity and constructiveness is developed in the children. The children have comparatively better opportunities to develop their character and autonomy. The egalitarian style of education is highly controversial.

Great advantages of the egalitarian style are that the children become independent, learn to articulate their needs creatively and at an early age, and learn to discuss them objectively. Parents are close to the child in this education, which can lead to a deep connection between parents and child. However, an egalitarian style of education requires a lot of time and patience if it is to be implemented consistently for the good of the child.

If a child decides not to go to the dentist or does not feel like going to school because of toothache, parents often have to discuss at length to convince the child of the benefits of certain things. This can be very exhausting and the parents have to be patient so that certain decisions of the child do not harm the child itself. However, the egalitarian style often fails in practice.

The laissez-faire parenting style is also very controversial. Here the children are allowed to do as they please and the parents intervene if it is for the good of the child. This style is suitable for children who are responsible and question things at an early age.

The passive behavior of the parents can lead to children not learning many things, such as boundaries, respectful behavior and consideration. Children who have difficulty orientating themselves are almost lost in the laissez-faire style and often feel lonely. The most critical style of education is the negating style, in which the children are neglected.

The children are dependent on themselves and do not learn essential aspects in their development, such as rules, limits and respectful interaction with fellow human beings. The children often lack self-esteem and have difficulties in adapting at school and in their social environment, so that they often stand out through school deficits and aggressive behavior. Children who grow up with a negatory upbringing style show great difficulties in their adulthood to fit into society and working life. A negating style can lead to the development of severe psychological and physical problems. A negating, neglecting educational style should by no means be consciously applied.