How much does the lack of a father figure influence a child's behavior?

I made this comment in one of my other answers, but I think it fits with this one too. My wife is a social worker and she would be the first one to tell you that the absence of a father figure makes a huge impact in the way a child acts and behaves.

Early childhood trauma is a very real thing that is gaining more attention these days. Many things can be tied back to a traumatic event that happened early in a child's life.

There are tons of single mothers out there in the world and they do an amazing job. I have much respect for them and what they do for their children each day. I think it is important to make that distinction.

Just because I am saying that a father figure is important doesn't diminish the role of a mother especially when they are the only parent.

The truth is there are some kids who just respond better to a male figure than they do to a female figure. I have seen many students who could not cope in a classroom with a female teacher, but for whatever reason you put them in a room with a strong male role model and their behavior totally changes.

There is something inherent in us that craves the approval and attention of both parents and absent one of the parents although you may grow up to be a fully normal adult, there will still be something missing from your life.

The lessons that we learn from each of our parents (given we are lucky enough to have both) are deep, and lifelong. They shape and mold us into the best version of our adult self that we can be.

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jadyclem (55) · 6 years ago

The healthiest environment for a child to grow is an environment where both the dad and mum are present in the life of the child. The absence of any of these two important personalities in the upbringing of the child would affect the child greatly all through their life time.

Most grown up adults are yet to fill up the vacuum created in their hearts by the absence of their mum and dad while growing. Every child needs a father and a mother figure in their life. These two figures would help create the balance in shaping the child's view about life. Should any of these personalities be absent in the growing up of a child, a vacuum is created that can't be filled by anything else

So every child needs a father and mother figure in his ,or her life

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ezravandi (55) · 6 years ago

I think the effect can be in two ways. It's either positive or negative. I like to use my experiences to judge and from what I've observed, it's most times negative than positive.

You see, the father figure usually imposes a sense of discipline on the child and helps form a sort of a model for appropriate behaviour. You have mothers who constantly prevent their children from doing evil by threatening to report to their father. The father of serves as the logical part of the equation a the mother is the emotional.

In homes where the father is lacking, the tendency does the child to become wayward and exhibit violent behavior becomes higher than can be said for the home whereas both parents are present.

I recall a home when I was growing up where the father died in an accident. After all the burial and rites had been done, I began to notice certain behavioural modifications in the children. First, the guys didn't keep late nights before and would like return home before 8pm. When the dad died, it was not uncommon to hear them banging on the door by 10 or 11 pm. I knew cause we lived in the same building,though different apartments. This is one of the negative aspects of the absence of the father figure.

Also, if the father of figure is around, there would be less emotional attachment to them mother. The child would know that there is competition for attention from the father and would have to caution himself or herself as to the closeness to the mother. While peers and friends could severe that emotional tie to an extent, a child who grows up not having a dad would barely be able to withdraw from its mother.

The good side is that there may be a drive towards excellence on the part of the child to ensure that the mother is proud of her child. The child may want to do well and behave properly so he would not cause the mother more pains. It won't be uncommon to see such a child excelling in book work and being of good behavior.

So, the results are in two ways.

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