The authoritarian parent can be described as and
a.
unloving . . abusive
b.
firm . . flexible
c.
lenient . . inconsistent
d.
restrictive . . controlling

The correct answer is D, restrictive and controlling. Authoritarian parents impose strict and inflexible standards on their children. They can be distinguished from authoritative parents, who are firm but use flexibility in dealing with their children, and with permissive parents, who are lenient and inconsistent in their rules for children. While authoritarian parenting has been shown to have some negative consequences, it is not necessarily abusive or unloving.