Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory (IPARTheory): Theoretical Bases, Method and Empirical Evidence

Abstract

Interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory) is an evidence-based theory of socialization and lifespan development that attempts to predict and explain major causes, consequences, and other correlates of interpersonal—especially parental—acceptance and rejection. This theory is divided into three subtheories. These are personality subtheory ( children everywhere—in different sociocultural systems, racial or ethnic groups, genders, and the like—respond in essentially the same way when they perceive themselves to be accepted or rejected by their parents or other attachment figures), coping subtheory (some children and adults emotionally cope more effectively than most with the similar experiences of childhood rejection), and sociocultural systems subtheory (specific psychological, familial, community, and societal factors tend to be reliably associated the world over with specific variations in parental acceptance-rejection).  Several distinctive features guide IPARTheory's method: 1) the theory draws extensively from worldwide and cross-cultural evidence employing a multimethod research strategy; 2) provide a conceptual framework for integrating empirical studies on issues of parental acceptance-rejection from a lifespan developmental perspective.