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Netflix documentary "What Jennifer Did" raises the question: Do controlling parents cause aggression?

Past research has identified a parenting style called guan common in Asian households.

Guan emphasizes hard work and self-discipline.

A 2015 study found that parenting control, more than guan, was associated with aggressive action.

This post was conceived by and co-written with Joshua Youngwood, Rose-Hulman class of 2027. It was edited by Stephanie Youngwood.

The 2024 Netflix true-crime documentary, What Jennifer Did, tells the story of then 24-year-old Jennifer Pan, who was convicted of first-degree murder for hiring hitmen to kill her parents. Jennifer’s mother, Bich, was killed, but her father, Hann, survived the attack. During the investigation, the history of the Pan family’s relationship was revealed. Bich and Hann were Vietnamese immigrants who raised Jennifer and her younger brother, Felix, in a very strict household. Her parents had high expectations and closely monitored how she spent her free time. By age four, Jennifer was already enrolled in piano lessons. Over time, she became overwhelmed by her parents’ expectations. She began lying to them about attending the University of Toronto, even forging report........

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