Strict Parenting Methods Employed by Tiger Parents: The Origin of High Expectations and Intense Pressure
Growing up with a tiger parent? You might never have felt "good enough" in your parents' eyes. This toxic kind of parenting, as defined by Amy Chua in her book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, emphasizes strict and authoritarian parenting styles to push kids to succeed.
While tiger parents may have good intentions, their approach creates immense pressure, taking an emotional toll on young children and teens. As adults, those who grew up under this parenting style can carry resentment and experience lasting psychological impacts. They often had to manage high expectations to avoid disappointment.
What is Tiger Parenting?
The term "tiger mom" was coined by Amy Chua, who defined it as "mothers of Chinese (or other ethnic) origin who are highly controlling and authoritarian, demanding unquestioning obedience, with little regard for their child's needs, wishes, or emotional well-being." Tiger parenting focuses on ensuring the child achieves the highest level of success, no matter the cost.
Impact on Mental Health
Being raised by a tiger parent can have significant long-term psychological impacts, including:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Low Self-Esteem
- Emotional Stifling
- Difficulty with Independence
- Gender Expectations
While tiger parents may create successful, driven children, the psychological toll can be devastating, affecting mental health and emotional development into adulthood.
Relearning Emotional Expression & Vulnerability
Adult children of tiger parents sometimes experience repressed emotions after years of following their parent's wishes. Talk therapy, journaling, and forming deeper relationships can help relearn emotional expression and regulate emotions.
Therapy for Adults Raised by Tiger Parents
Therapy is essential in working through complex emotions and disordered thought processes. Group sessions or individual therapy can help address the consequences of tiger parenting. Techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and reparenting can be particularly effective.
Breaking the Cycle with Mental Health Support
Breaking the cycle of tiger parenting begins with recognizing that one's self-worth isn't linked to achievements. Setting family boundaries, finding one's own path, and seeking therapy or support groups can help heal and forge a new path. Online therapy sessions provide flexible and convenient access to therapy for those who may be overwhelmed by in-person sessions.
Our website articles are written by mental health experts and grounded in scientific research and evidence-based practices. With the right support, healing from a tiger parenting upbringing is possible.
- The psychological impacts of growing up with a tiger parent can extend into adulthood, as evidenced by anxiety and depression, low self-esteem, emotional stifling, difficulty with independence, and increased pressure to meet gender expectations.
- Adult children of tiger parents may repress emotions after years of following their parents' wishes, but learning emotional expression through tools like journaling, therapy, and forming deeper relationships can help restore balance.
- As a vital part of the healing process, therapy can address complex emotions and disordered thought patterns, with techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and reparenting proving particularly effective.
- Breaking the cycle of tiger parenting involves recognizing that self-worth isn't defined by achievements, setting family boundaries, seeking support, and finding one's own path. This journey can be facilitated through accessible online therapy sessions.
- Consistent with our commitment to health-and-wellness, our articles draw on the expertise of mental health professionals and evidence-based practices, offering guidance rooted in the science of mental health.
- In strengthening family dynamics and fostering healthy relationships, embracing support and taking control of one's mental health can lead to a more positive lifestyle in adulthood.
