permissiveness
/pə'misivnis/
Definition
Noun: A tendency or attitude characterized by allowing a wide degree of freedom in personal choice, behavior, or expression, often with minimal restrictions or judgment.
Usage
"Permissiveness" describes a social, parental, or authoritative stance that is tolerant, lenient, or indulgent. It implies a reluctance to impose strict rules or to interfere with the actions or choices of others.
Examples
- The permissiveness of the school's dress code policy led to a wide variety of student attire.
- Some critics argue that the permissiveness of modern parenting styles can lead to a lack of discipline in children.
- The cultural permissiveness of the 1960s challenged many traditional social norms.
Advanced Usage
- Sociological Context: In sociology, "permissiveness" often refers to societal attitudes toward behaviors that were once considered taboo, such as premarital sex or substance use.
- The study examined the growing permissiveness in attitudes toward cohabitation before marriage.
- Psychological Context: In developmental psychology, it can describe a parenting style that is high in warmth but low in demands and control.
- The psychologist contrasted authoritarian parenting with permissiveness.
Variants and Related Words
- Permissive (adjective): Having a tendency to allow freedom of choice and behavior; tolerant.
- She has a permissive attitude toward her employees' working hours.
- Permit (verb): To allow or give permission for something. (Note: This is a related but distinct word.)
- The city does not permit parking on this street overnight.
Synonyms
- Leniency: The quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
- Tolerance: The ability or willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from one's own.
- Indulgence: The action or fact of allowing someone to have or do what they want.
- Laxity: Lack of strictness or care.
Antonyms
- Strictness: The quality of demanding that rules concerning behavior are obeyed and observed.
- Authoritarianism: The enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
- Stringency: The quality of being very strict, precise, or exacting.
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Permissive society: A term used to describe a society with liberal social attitudes, especially regarding sexual freedom.
- Some historians attribute the rise of the permissive society to post-war economic prosperity.
- Permissive parenting: A parenting style characterized by high responsiveness and low demands, where parents are nurturing and communicative but set few rules.
- While permissive parenting fosters creativity, it may not teach sufficient self-control.
Noun
-
a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior
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