The Anchoring Function: Parental Authority and the Parent‐Child Bond. Issue 2 (16th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Omer, Haim; Steinmetz, Sarit G.; Carthy, Tal; von, Arist
• Is Part Of: Family process. Volume 52:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 206
• Publication Date: 2013-01-16
• Subjects: Family psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Families -- Periodicals; 616.8915
• DOI: 10.1111/famp.12019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-7370

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="famp12019-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Descriptions of parental authority and of the formation of a secure parent‐child bond have remained unconnected in conceptualizations about parenting and child development. The parental anchoring function is here presented as an integrative metaphor for the two fields. Parents who fulfill an anchoring function offer a secure relational frame for the child, while also manifesting a stabilizing and legitimate kind of authority. The anchoring function enriches the two fields by: (1) adding a dimension of authority to the acknowledged functions of the safe haven and the secure base that are seen as core to a secure parent‐child bond, and (2) adding considerations about the parent‐child bond to Baumrind's classical description of authoritative parenting.</p> </abstract>