Final answer:
Parenting is bidirectional and dynamic, which means that parents respond to their child's temperament in shaping their parenting approach. The authoritative parenting style is particularly effective in fostering healthy socioemotional development and is commonly encouraged in American society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of parenting that is demonstrated when parents adjust their behavior in response to their child's temperament and behavior is C. Parenting is bidirectional and dynamic. This concept recognizes that parenting is not just about influencing the child, but also about responding to the child's unique personality and needs.
Temperament, which refers to the innate traits that influence an individual's interactions with their environment, can impact the parenting style adopted by the parents. For example, children with easy temperaments may elicit warm and responsive parenting, while those with difficult temperaments can sometimes provoke irritation or cause parents to withdraw. Diana Baumrind's research on parenting styles, including authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved styles, notes that the authoritative style is most conducive to a child's socioemotional growth and is encouraged in modern American society—although effective parenting styles may vary across cultures.
In the context of family as the primary agent of socialization, parents' interaction with children is influenced by multiple social factors, including historical and cultural norms. This dynamic interaction means that family teachings on manners, values, and norms are adapted to the children's responses and developments, reflecting the bidirectional nature of parenting.