Insecure Romantic Relationships

The article “The Distinct, Positive Impact of a Good Dad” focuses a lot on the basic impact of how much of an influence a dad is to a child’s life. It explains the difference between how the father impacts the child’s life in a more “open arms” way whereas, a mother has a more “closed arms” impact. Having a good dad around in a child’s life is more likely to make for a better future for the kid, compared to a child who doesn’t have a good dad in their life or little to no dad at all they have a less likely chance for a better future as studies have shown. Studies have shown that mental health is a huge issue with both genders when they have a strong relationship with their father as to being in a household with a

It is during this time a father needs to be present to father, shape and mold his children (Jones, Kramer, Kim A., Teresa L., Armitage, Tracey, Williams, Keith, as cited in Wallerstein, 1980, 1987). On their 10 year follow up, Wallerstein and Kelley found that regardless of the time spent with a father or not, the father continued to be a significant presence psychologically to adolescents, particularly to boys (Jones et al., as cited in Wallerstein, Kelley, 1974). On Kelley and Wallerstein’s 25 year follow up of their now adult participants in their longitudinal study, they have found that the effects of fatherlessness and divorce during their adolescents were long lasting. The participants in the study by Wallerstein et al. (2000) noted that “The impact of divorce hits them most cruelly as they go in search of love, sexual intimacy, and commitment” (p. 299). These same participants also stated in an interview that they had anxiety issues about relationships and intimacy problems into adulthood (Jones et al., as cited in Wallerstein et al., 2000). Wallerstein et al. (2000) participants of the research also stated that they had resentment towards their parents, particularly the fathers who were seen “selfish and faithless” (p. 300).

A study was done to research on the attachment styles of children who perceived extramarital affairs and expression of anger were more likely to be more insecure in attachment in adulthood relationships (Platt 151). Children’s perception of parents engaging in infidelity and the betrayal of trust makes them warier of engaging in a long-term relationship, trust is extremely difficult for these children’s relationships in adulthood (Platt 151). In addition, children who witnessed a parent death, where more likely have poor attachment styles in adulthood relationships (Platt 151). Clemencia’s father died of an illness this may explain why she has a difficult time being expressive with people, more

Individual attachment style and its effects on adult romantic relationships were examined. The hypothesis of this literature review was that insecure attachment style would negatively affect the overall dynamic of adult romantic relationships while secure attachment would promote positive and healthy romantic relationships. Empirical studies looking at attachment style and relationship issues such as one’s views of self and others, communication, sexual intimacy, childhood family dynamic and God were evaluated. Reviews of studies were in line with the hypothesis indicating that insecure attachment does negatively affect the overall dynamic of romantic

Parents play an important part in the advancement of children. When a parent is incapacitated, it disrupts the bonding and attachment stage of development. This interruption could lead the adolescent children to develop challenges later in life. In African American families, fathers play an important role in the development of their children. Conferring to Threfal, Seay, and Kohl (2013), as cited in (Black and Dubowits 1999, Coley 2001, Jackson, Jeong-Kyum, and Franke 2009), when African American men are involved in their child's/children life, their children experience gains in development, academic achievement and decreased behavioral problems. However, when the father is incapacitated, children may experience an increase in behavioral problems, low cognitive functioning, and low achievement in

Some scholars have argued the notion that fathers are important contributors to their children and adolescents’ psychosocial development (Mandara, Murray, & Joyner, 2005). According to Allgood, Beckert, and Peterson (2012), researchers are beginning to understand the importance of examining children’s perspectives and the relationships and levels of involvement children have with their fathers.

For various reasons, many children in the United States are living without their fathers in their homes or absent from their lives entirely. This is an issue all across the world and the children are having to deal with the disadvantages caused by the lack of support from their fathers. This issue has a significant effect on society and can be viewed and interpreted from the three sociological perspectives. As a result of many studies, it was found that children raised in father absent homes almost universally experience disadvantages such as: worse health, poorer academic achievement, and a less enjoyable educational experience. There are many variables that need to be taken into effect when considering

Per Psychology Today, children who have an involved father from birth tend to be more emotionally secure, confident, better educational outcomes and

Hazan and Shaver (1987) aimed to investigate whether they could classify the responders’ love relationships as secure, ambivalent, and avoidant, whether there was a correlation between the formed attachment pattern from childhood and attachment pattern during the love relationships, and whether there was a correlation between the distribution of childhood attachment patterns and adult love relationships’ attachment patterns.

According to this review, previous studies on father absence have often been criticized for their use of cross-sectional data and methods, which have failed to notice possible omitted variable bias and reverse causality. To combat this, researchers began to utilize a variety of innovative research designs, such as longitudinal data, sibling comparisons, natural experiments and/or instrumental variables, to discover the causal effects of father absence. In 2013, McLanahan, Tach and Schneider reviewed 47 studies that employed one or more of these research designs to examine the causality of father absence on four areas: mental health, relationship formation and stability, educational attainment, and labor force success. Their aim was to find

Most mothers and fathers love their kids with all their heart. As a child begins to age, parents begin to influence their kids and will mold them as they mature. However, parents without much care for their kids will leave a long-term effect on their children and in this study, the main impact is the father.

The perception of a tradition father can appear various forms. Today’s fathers is had taken a change based on the traditional father seen many years ago. In the past father’s where identified as the breadwinner and disciplinarian in the family. The traditional has shown a decrease where there is a rise of single parent households being led by the mother. There have been several studies conducted to explore how father involvement can increase positive social and emotional development. Paschal et al., (2011), identified provider role as the one who provide economic status the child. Participants expressed a desire to care for child financially. Fathers identified their responsibility of caring for child by purchasing diapers, clothes, and baby food. In most cases Paschal et al., (2011) found most fathers who shared the importance of providing for child financially was older, and had some form of employment compared to young fathers. However other participants did express a desire to act in the role of a provider, but reported several reason they were unable to provide financially to the child or the mother. Paschal et al., (2011) also found that teen fathers who were romantically involved with the mother was more financially supportive that teen father who did not have a romantic relationship.

It will be part of an extra credit opportunity for the Introductory Psychology course. Students are the best population for this research because they are diverse in ages, marital status, and cultural backgrounds. Forty-eight percent of participants will be single and forty-nine percent in a committed relationship. The sample from the clinic will be obtained from clients of a faculty member from the university, who have their own private practice. There will be a group meeting with clients, they will be informed about the purpose and goal of the research, and they will voluntarily accept or decline participation in the survey. The couples from the Marriage and Family therapy clinic are a good target population because they will give information about their experiences in their marriages, either successful or unsuccessful outcomes, and how those conflicts are reflected on their past attachments with their parents or caregivers. We will then compare and contrast these results between the college students and clients and see their experiences and beliefs up close. We Hypothesized that negative attachment styles affect relationships. Also, those who are clients at the marriage and family therapy will score less on avoidant attachment.

The perception of a tradition father can appear in various forms. Today’s father role has taken a change based on the traditional father seen many years ago. In the past father’s where identified as the breadwinner and disciplinarian in the family. The traditional role has shown a decrease where there is a rise of single parent households being led by the mother. There have been several studies conducted to explore how father involvement can increase positive social and emotional development. Paschal et al., (2011), identified provider role as the one who provide economic status the child. Participants expressed a desire to care for a child financially. Fathers identified their responsibility of caring for a child by purchasing diapers, clothes, and baby food. In most cases Paschal et al., (2011) found most fathers who shared the importance of providing for child financially was older, and had some form of employment compared to young fathers. However, other participants did express a desire to act in the role of a provider, but reported several reasons they were unable to provide financially to the child or the mother. Paschal et al., (2011) also found that teen fathers who were romantically involved with the mother was more financially supportive that teen father who did not have a romantic relationship.

1.     Father involvement in childhood is associated with both good father-child relations in adolescence and later marital satisfaction in adult life, even after controlling for mother involvement, mother-child relations and known confounds.