Let Us Not Throw Out the Baby With the Bathwater: Applying the Principle of Universalism Without Uniformity to Autonomy-Supportive and Controlling Parenting
Open accessAbstract
Socialization scholars differ in how they view parenting processes: On one hand, scholars working from the perspective of the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) underscore the universally growth-promoting role of parenting that is perceived to support autonomy and the universal costs associated with parenting that is perceived as controlling. On the other hand, scholars adopting a more relativistic perspective focus on moderating factors (e.g., personality, culture) that may reduce or even cancel out the benefits of parents' support of autonomy and the costs of controlling parenting. In this article, we apply the principle of universalism without uniformity to this literature and review evidence for this principle. Specifically, we maintain that room for individual differences exists within SDT in children's appraisal of potentially autonomy-supportive and controlling parenting practices, and in the way they cope with controlling parenting. This perspective emphasizes children's active contribution in shaping the socialization process.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
BPNT's universality perspective does not require perfect uniformity.
“Overall then, BPNT's universality perspective does not require perfect uniformity (Soenens et al. 2015).”
From Basic psychological need theory: Advancements, critical themes, and future directions (2020) · cites this paper as Soenens et al. 2015
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1207/s15327965pli1104_01 · Cited by 34,210 · see citing works
(2010) · Intellectum (Universidad de La Sabana) · doi:10.1111/j.1467- · Cited by 16,131 · see citing works
(1996) · Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) · doi:10.1111/j · Cited by 5,486 · see citing works
Handbook of socialization: theory and research
(2007) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.45-0345 · Cited by 3,405 · see citing works
The support of autonomy and the control of behavior.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1987) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.53.6.1024 · Cited by 3,242 · see citing works
Parental Psychological Control: Revisiting a Neglected Construct
Barber, B. K. (1996) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1996.tb01915.x · Cited by 2,657 · see citing works
Skinner, E. A., Edge, K., Altman, J., & Sherwood, H. (2003) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.2.216 · Cited by 2,639 · see citing works
Parental Psychological Control: Revisiting a Neglected Construct
Barber, B. K. (1996) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131780 · Cited by 2,629 · see citing works
Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior
Baumrind, D. (1966) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1126611 · Cited by 2,548 · see citing works
The support of autonomy and the control of behavior.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1987) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.53.6.1024 · Cited by 2,280 · see citing works
Equifinality and multifinality in developmental psychopathology
Cicchetti, D., & Rogosch, F. A. (1996) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579400007318 · Cited by 1,842 · see citing works
Masten, A. S., & Cicchetti, D. (2010) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579410000222 · Cited by 1,800 · see citing works
Rethinking the value of choice: A cultural perspective on intrinsic motivation.
Iyengar, S. S., & Lepper, M. R. (1999) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.76.3.349 · Cited by 1,515 · see citing works
Autonomy in children's learning: An experimental and individual difference investigation.
Grolnick, W. S., & Ryan, R. M. (1987) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.52.5.890 · Cited by 1,176 · see citing works
Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2010) · Developmental Review · doi:10.1016/j.dr.2009.11.001 · Cited by 1,161 · see citing works
Self-citationPatall, E. A., Cooper, H., & Robinson, J. C. (2008) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.270 · Cited by 1,101 · see citing works
Rethinking the value of choice: A cultural perspective on intrinsic motivation.
Iyengar, S. S., & Lepper, M. R. (1999) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.76.3.349 · Cited by 1,089 · see citing works
Parenting and children's internalization of values : a handbook of contemporary theory
Grusec, J. E., & Kuczynski, L. (1997) · Cited by 991 · see citing works
Autonomy in children's learning: An experimental and individual difference investigation.
Grolnick, W. S., & Ryan, R. M. (1987) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.52.5.890 · Cited by 977 · see citing works
Unpacking Authoritative Parenting: Reassessing a Multidimensional Construct
Gray, M. R., & Steinberg, L. D. (1999) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353561 · Cited by 833 · see citing works
Wang, Q., Pomerantz, E. M., & Chen, H. (2007) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01085.x · Cited by 774 · see citing works
Experiences of Autonomy and Control Among Chinese Learners: Vitalizing or Immobilizing?
Vansteenkiste, M., Zhou, M., Lens, W., & Soenens, B. (2005) · Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-0663.97.3.468 · Cited by 725 · see citing works
Self-citationNature and nurturing: parenting in the context of child temperament
Kiff, C. J., Lengua, L. J., & Zalewski, M. (2011) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10567-011-0093-4 · Cited by 658 · see citing works
A self-determination theory perspective on parenting.
Joussemet, M., Landry, R., & Koestner, R. (2008) · Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne · doi:10.1037/a0012754 · Cited by 650 · see citing works
Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Lens, W., Luyckx, K., Goossens, L., Beyers, W., & Ryan, R. M. (2007) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.43.3.633 · Cited by 608 · see citing works
Self-citationIssues and Challenges in Studying Parental Control: Toward a New Conceptualization
Grolnick, W. S., & Pomerantz, E. M. (2009) · Child Development Perspectives · doi:10.1111/j.1750-8606.2009.00099.x · Cited by 601 · see citing works
Developmental Cascades [Special Issue, Part 1]
Masten, A. S., & CICCHETTI, D. V. (2010) · Development and Psychopathology · Cited by 572 · see citing works
Internalization within the family: The self-determination theory perspective.
Grolnick, W. S., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1997) · Cited by 564 · see citing works
Vansteenkiste, M., Simons, J., Lens, W., Soenens, B., & Matos, L. (2005) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2005.00858.x · Cited by 489 · see citing works
Self-citationCultural Psychology: Who Needs It?
Shweder, R. A., & Sullivan, M. A. (1993) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.44.020193.002433 · Cited by 483 · see citing works
Does Choice Mean Freedom and Well-Being?
Markus, H. R., & Schwartz, B. (2010) · Journal of Consumer Research · doi:10.1086/651242 · Cited by 381 · cited 1× · see citing works
“autonomy support (and providing choice, in particular) have recently been called into question (11).”
BackgroundVan Petegem, S., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Beyers, W. (2015) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.12355 · Cited by 264 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Role of Parental Control in Children's Development in Western and East Asian Countries
Pomerantz, E. M., & Wang, Q. (2009) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01653.x · Cited by 240 · see citing works
Interpretations of parental control by Asian immigrant and European American youth.
Chao, R. K., & Aque, C. (2009) · Journal of Family Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0015828 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., Van Petegem, S., & Duriez, B. (2014) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0032972 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Self-citationLeeuwen, K. G. V., Mervielde, I., Braet, C., & Bosmans, G. (2004) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.40.6.1028 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Adolescents’ Interpretations of Parental Control: Differentiated by Domain and Types of Control
Kakihara, F., & Tilton‐Weaver, L. C. (2009) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01364.x · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Correlates of parental control and autonomy support in an interdependent culture: A look at Ghana
Marbell, K. N., & Grolnick, W. S. (2012) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-012-9289-2 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Agency and Bidirectionality in Socialization: Interactions, Transactions, and Relational Dialectics.
Kuczynski, L., & Parkin, C. M. (2007) · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Sheldon, K. M., Cheng, C., & Hilpert, J. C. (2011) · Psychological Inquiry · doi:10.1080/1047840x.2011.532477 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Ahmad, I., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2013) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0027837 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationQin, L., Pomerantz, E. M., & Wang, Q. (2009) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01363.x · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Helwig, C. C., To, S., Wang, Q., Liu, C., & Yang, S. (2013) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.12183 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Rothbaum, F. M., & Trommsdorff, G. (2007) · KOPS (University of Konstanz) · Cited by 110 · see citing works
What can parents do? : new insights into the role of parents in adolescent problem behavior
Kerr, M., Stattin, H., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2008) · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Parenting, motivation, and the development of children's coping.
Skinner, E. A., & Edge, K. (2002) · PubMed · Cited by 64 · see citing works
What is the Nature of Effective Parenting? It Depends
Grusec, J. E. (2008) · doi:10.1002/9780470774113.ch10 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [17]17. Kuczynski, L., & Parkin, M. C. (2007). Agency and bidirectionali- ty in socialization: Interactions, transactions, and relational dialec- tics. In J. E. Grusec & P. D. Hastings (Eds.), Handbook of socialization: Theory and research (pp. 259-283). New York, NY: Guilford.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020) · Contemporary Educational Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860 · Cited by 6,037 · see citing works
Basic psychological need theory: Advancements, critical themes, and future directions
Vansteenkiste, M., Ryan, R. M., & Soenens, B. (2020) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-019-09818-1 · Cited by 1,891 · see citing works
Self-citationvan der Kaap-Deeder, J., Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., & Mabbe, E. (2017) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0000218 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Self-citationChen, B., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Van Petegem, S., & Beyers, W. (2016) · Psychologica Belgica · doi:10.5334/pb.306 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Self-citationDe Meyer, J., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Aelterman, N., Van Petegem, S., & Haerens, L. (2016) · Psychology of Sport and Exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.06.001 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Self-citationWaterschoot, J., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2019) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2019.104692 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Self-citationMabbe, E., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Van Leeuwen, K. (2016) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12166 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Self-citationParental Autonomy Support in Two Cultures: The Moderating Effects of Adolescents’ Self-Construals
Marbell-Pierre, K. N., Grolnick, W. S., Stewart, A. L., & Raftery-Helmer, J. N. (2019) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.12947 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Van Petegem, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Brenning, K., Mabbe, E., Vanhalst, J., & Zimmermann, G. (2017) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-017-0758-9 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationVan Assche, J., van der Kaap‐Deeder, J., Audenaert, E., De Schryver, M., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2018) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12372 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Self-citationWörtler, B., Van Yperen, N. W., & Barelds, D. P. H. (2020) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-019-09775-9 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Henning, G., Bjälkebring, P., Stenling, A., Thorvaldsson, V., Johansson, B., & Lindwall, M. (2019) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2019.03.008 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Baten, E., Vansteenkiste, M., De Muynck, G.-J., De Poortere, E., & Desoete, A. (2020) · Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1037/edu0000444 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Self-citationVan Petegem, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M., Baudat, S., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Zimmermann, G. (2019) · Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2019.101073 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Self-citationDifferent ways of knowing a child and their relations to mother‐reported autonomy support
Mageau, G. A., Sherman, A., Grusec, J. E., Koestner, R., & Bureau, J. S. (2017) · Social Development · doi:10.1111/sode.12212 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Mabbe, Soenens, Vansteenkiste, & Pauw, D. (2020) · Merrill-Palmer Quarterly · doi:10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.66.3.0308 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Van Petegem, S.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University (BE)
- Ghent University
- Corresponding author
- Soenens, Bart
- Venue
- Child Development Perspectives
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2015-02-18
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 44-49
- ISSN
- 1750-8592 (ISSN-L)
- 1750-8606
- OpenAlex
- W2023904500
- Semantic Scholar
- c6d1fc119431fd6901063a5f9365463a0918448a
- Cited by
- 364
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 110 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7
- FWCI
- 14.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Child Development Perspectives (publishedVersion)
- Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Keywords
- parental autonomy support, controlling parenting, self-determination theory, individual differences, child socialization
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
