Designing an Existential Parenting Model: A Neuroscientific Elucidation of Parental Model Incongruence and Children's Developmental Stagnation

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Higher Education Institute of Sciences and Knowledge, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran

2 PhD in Quran and Psychology Member of the Department of Quran and Sciences Al-Mustafa International University, Higher Education Complex of Quran and Hadith

Abstract

In the era of late modernity and the dominance of the digital ecosystem, the family institution faces novel ontological challenges that have disrupted traditional socialization mechanisms. This study, through a phenomenological exploration of parent-child interactions, elucidates the mechanism of developmental stagnation and presents a comprehensive model grounded in Islamic teachings and modern psychological findings to enhance children's mental well-being. The research employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, using grounded theory and in-depth interviews with 20 parents and 7 experts, the mechanism of developmental stagnation was explicated and an initial model was designed. In the quantitative phase, the model's content validity was assessed using the Lawshe ratio with feedback from an expert panel. Qualitative content analysis revealed a significant model incongruence between parents' normative discourse and their existential behavior. Findings indicate that parents' constant oscillation between passivity, aggression, and activity creates an ambiguous environment for the child. This leads to the phenomenon of developmental stagnation—a halt in emotional and social growth—through the chronic activation of the threat-monitoring system. In response, technique-driven interventions prove ineffective, necessitating a shift towards a paradigm based on existential integrity. The final proposed model, centered on the principle of veracity (Sidq) and built upon six pillars (religious values, the parental role model, safeguarding innate nature (Fitra), insight, ethics, and psychological well-being), was formulated. This model demonstrates that only through a complete alignment of word and deed and the restoration of the parents' role-model authority can the ambiguity of modernity be overcome, thereby ensuring the harmonious development of the future generation.

Keywords

Journal of Islamic Education

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 June 2026

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