The Nature and Importance of the Father-Infant Relationship

Rethinking the father‐son relationship (1)

“…Forrest (1967) argues that the father's intrusion in the mother-son relationship from the time of birth serves to sever the son's symbiotic tie with the mother. This view supports empirical studies which point to active involvement of fathers at childbirth and beyond (Lamb 1976a, b. c, and d;1977a and b;Lamb and Lamb 1976) and the observations by Greenacre (1966), who notes that a father is important in the early months both in his mediated influence (through the mother) and in his direct contribution to the "special magic and the omnipotent qualities in the child's life* (p. 749).…”

Perceived Child-Parent Relationships and Child Adjustment in Families with Both Adopted and Natural Children

“…Contrary to the belief that paternal influence is not significant until after a child is four years old (Mower, 1950;Mussen, 1967Mussen, , 1973Parsons, 1958;Parsons § Bales, 1955) , recent studies indicate infants are attached to both parents at an early age (Lamb § Lamb, 1976). The relationships infants experience with their fathers and mothers differ in their potential for significant impact upon the psychological and social development of the children (Burlingham, 1973;Lamb, 1975).…”

Accoucher autrement

“…Les femmes auraient davantage tendance à donner des soins physiques aux enfants (les débarbouiller plus souvent, par exemple) alors que les hommes joueraient plus spontanément avec eux et les réconforteraient plus fréquemment que les mères. Ces distinctions, qui ressortent davantage dans les observations faites en milieu naturel (à domicile) qu'en milieu artificiel (à l'hôpital), tendraient donc à suggérer que ce n'est pas par manque de capacité biologique que le père s'occupe peu de l'enfant, mais parce que, culturellement, ce rôle est dévolu à la femme dans notre genre de société (Parke et Sawin, 1976 ;Lamb et Lamb, 1976 ;Rendina et Dickersheid, 1976). …”