This paper proposes a conceptual
framework linking disciplinarian parenting with the development of a harsh
inner voice, maladaptive perfectionism, and emotional eating, culminating in
weight-related challenges. While existing research highlights these dynamics
primarily in Western contexts, this paper situates them within the cultural,
generational, and historical realities of South Asian communities. Post-colonial
scarcity, socio-economic pressures on first-generation graduates, and
intergenerational cycles of food-related guilt have uniquely shaped family
dynamics in the region. Cultural practices such as finishing one’s plate—rooted
in histories of famine, poverty, and survival—have normalised the disconnection
from bodily hunger and satiety cues. This paper highlights how these complex
intergenerational and cultural factors contribute to emotional dysregulation
and eating difficulties, offering a culturally sensitive lens for counseling
and cross-cultural psychology.
Background: Disciplinarian Parenting (DP), also referred
to as Authoritarian Parenting, is characterised by rigid control, punitive
discipline, and limited emotional responsiveness. It has been studied
extensively in relation to self-esteem, anxiety, and perfectionism. Parallel
research has linked perfectionism, self-criticism, and emotional eating (EE) to
concerns around health and well-being. However, these literatures often remain
siloed, leaving a limited understanding of how early disciplinarian experiences
cascade into adult struggles with food, body image, and weight regulation. This
gap is particularly relevant in Indian and South Asian contexts, where
historical legacies of colonialism, Partition, generational scarcity, and
intergenerational pressure to succeed shape parenting styles and coping
mechanisms.
Objective: This article proposes a conceptual framework
linking DP with the internalisation of a Harsh Inner Critic (HIC), the development
of Maladaptive Perfectionism (MP), and subsequent EE that may contribute to
overweight (OW) and obesity-related challenges. The framework situates this
pathway within the cultural and sociohistorical realities of Indian and South
Asian families, where strict parenting, food-related guilt, and survival-driven
values are deeply interwoven.
Approach: Drawing from counselling practice,
developmental psychology, and eating behavior research, the model illustrates
how DP fosters internalised self-criticism, which in turn fuels MP. Over time,
these perfectionistic pressures heighten emotional dysregulation, often managed
through EE. This cycle is further reinforced by cultural narratives of food
scarcity, generational responsibility (e.g., first-generation graduates
striving to support families), and guilt around waste. Together, these
influences highlight a cumulative, culturally embedded pathway to
weight-related struggles.
Implications: The framework underscores the importance of addressing the inner critic and perfectionistic tendencies within counselling interventions, while simultaneously recognising the cultural and intergenerational narratives that shape them. It further points to the need for parent education and psychoeducation within South Asian contexts to break cycles of punitive self-talk, scarcity-driven control, and maladaptive coping strategies. By conceptualising this pathway, the article invites empirical research to validate and extend the model, informing culturally sensitive interventions targeting EE, self-compassion, and healthier intergenerational parenting practices.
