Democratic-Deliberative Discourse in Adlerian Israeli Parenting Classes: Ideology and Implementation

Adlerian parenting study groups, a prevalent format in many Western countries, aim to impart democratic practices to parents. As part of the learning process in these groups, instructors try to model how to conduct democratic-deliberative discourse in the family. As a case study for a global format for parenting study groups, the present study examines an Adlerian parenting group in Israel. Specifically, it examines how discussions in these groups meet the objective of conducting democratic discourse. The study reveals that many principles of deliberative exchange were only partially implemented, indicating a clear gap between the group's objective and actual implementation of that objective. Overall, the study elucidates the need to teach parent educators deliberative principles.