Father Absence and the Personality Development of the Male Child Developmental Psychology

This article indicates that the effects of father absence on the personality development of the male child cannot be considered in isolation from other factors. The timing and length of father absence, sociocultural milieu, relative availability of surrogate models, and individual differences in maternal behavior need to be taken into consideration. The possible influence of father absence on different aspects of sex role, the expression of impulsive and aggressive behavior, cognitive functioning, interpersonal relationships, and the development of psychopathology are explored. Much emphasis is put on the need for further systematic research and many possible avenues of investigation are suggested.