According to research on parenting styles, distal parenting tends to produce children who are:

• A. more physically dependent on caregivers
• B. less likely to explore their environment
• C. more emotionally withdrawn
• D. more independent and self-reliant

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of distal parenting: it is a parenting style characterized by less physical closeness and more emphasis on verbal communication and encouraging independence.
2. Review research findings on distal parenting, which suggest that children raised with this style tend to develop greater independence and self-reliance rather than physical dependence.
3. Contrast distal parenting with proximal parenting, which involves more physical closeness and tends to produce children who are more physically dependent and less exploratory.
4. Analyze the options given in the problem and identify which characteristics align with distal parenting based on psychological research.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is that distal parenting tends to produce children who are more independent and self-reliant, as supported by empirical studies.