guilt-based parenting

Guilt-based parenting is an approach where parents express disappointment or sadness to influence their children's behavior. Instead of encouraging positive actions through rewards or praise, this style relies on evoking feelings of guilt to motivate children to conform to expectations. Parents may use phrases that imply their love is conditional based on the child's behavior, which can lead to a child feeling responsible for their parent's emotions. While it might seem effective short-term, it can harm the child's self-esteem and emotional development, potentially leading to anxiety or strained parent-child relationships in the long run.