Parenting in Indian culture: a qualitative exploration from a person-centered perspective

Parenting plays a central role in shaping a child’s emotional and psychological development. There has been limited exploration of how person-centered theory applies to parenting, especially in non-Western cultural contexts. This study examines how person-centered values align with or diverge from traditional Indian parenting, as reflected in the experiences of individuals who have experienced both. The research involved five participants of Indian origin who were raised in India during their formative years and who were enrolled in counseling or psychotherapy training. Using an inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, the study examined how participants made sense of their upbringing through a person-centered lens. Four main themes emerged: conditional acceptance, hierarchical power structures, psychological impact of parenting, and desire for change. Participants recalled childhoods where obedience, academic success, and emotional control were prioritized over psychological safety and self-expression. These experiences contrasted with person-centered values such as empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard (UPR). This research highlights how cultural norms influence parenting and how person-centered principles might support more emotionally attuned and empowering family dynamics. It contributes to the growing conversation about applying person-centered approaches in collectivist cultures and suggests ways to integrate these values into counseling, education, social, and family support work.