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Knight families are generally hierarchical. As in “Father Knows Best,” there is a clear leader. (Sometimes, however, they conflict over who “wears the pants” in the family.) Roles within the family are clearly delineated and assigned to the “proper” family members. Within the extended family Knights may seek to discern who their allies and enemies are and engage in family intrigues to gain advantage or protect themselves. In the political realm, “family values” often are Knight values.

Discipline is key in Knight parenting styles. Knights view a disobedient child’s behavior as an attempt to challenge their parents’ authority—a situation that can be resolved with stricter discipline. This strict discipline is rightly understood as a form of love for their children. If you’ve heard a parent say, just before spanking a child, “This is for your own good,” you’ve seen a Knight parent in action. If, however, children become Knights like their parents, they may grow to oppose their parents’ values and rebel. This is the pattern that inspired the cliché that the most troublesome teenagers are the children of cops and ministers.