Father Figure Research Articles

Love is a Losing Game: Aggression as a Function of Attachment and Gender Among Cape Verdean Young Adults

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the association between inhibition of exploration and individuality with both mother and father figure, ambivalent attachment style, and aggression dimensions (anger, hostility, physical, and verbal aggression) among Cape Verdean young adults in a romantic relationship. Moreover, the study proposed aggression dimensions as a mediator between the relationship of the aforementioned variables. The study followed a cross-sectional design performed between May and December 2023 among 123 Cape Verdean young adults aged 18 to 35 who reported to have been in an intimate relationship in the last 6 months. Hayes’ PROCESS macro for mediation analysis in SPSS was used to test the hypothesized model. The results suggested that anger and hostility had a significant relationship with inhibition of exploration and individuality, with the mother figure and ambivalent attachment style. Women manifested higher levels of anger and hostility, as well as ambivalent attachment in comparison to men. Additionally, hostility played a significant mediator role between the relationship of the aforementioned variables. The present study adds to the literature by addressing differences in genders’ manifestation of aggressive behaviors in romantic relationships and provides a critical perspective of existing literature with recommendations and limitations of the field.

Family communication and courageous coping in Korean adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are a vulnerable population during a critical developmental transition that can benefit from the adoption of courageous coping. Parental support is crucial in enhancing adjustment and coping skills. The linkage between parent-adolescent communication (PAC) and the use of courageous coping (UCC), however, remains unclear. This study examined the association between PAC and UCC and possible mediators of this relationship among Korean AYAs with cancer. In this cross-sectional, correlational study, self-report data were collected from 144 AYAs aged 11-26 years. A path analytic approach was employed using a hierarchical regression model to test for the direct relationship between PAC and UCC and the indirect effects of a proposed primary mediator (family cohesion) and two intermediary mediators (uncertainty of illness, hope) on PAC-UCC relationship. The mean age of the sample was 17 years (SD = 3.8), with 42% currently receiving cancer treatment. Greater PAC was significantly associated with increased UCC (mother figure: p = .0024, father figure: p = .0042). Increased family cohesion significantly mediated the PAC-UCC relationship, indicated by a diminished PAC-UCC relationship after controlling for family cohesion (mother: p = .2753; father: p = .8107). Mediated mediation models indicated that increased hope stemming from decreased uncertainty was the mechanism through which family cohesion impacted the PAC-UCC relationship. Findings underscore that greater PAC can facilitate UCC among Korean AYAs with cancer and provide insights for therapeutic parent-child communication. Results further demonstrate the complex mediating role of fostering family cohesion, reducing uncertainty, and fostering hope can play in the PAC-UCC relationship.

Chronicity of Violence Foretold: Toward an Integrated Theory of Intimate Partner Violence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide social problem. The current study explores underlining mechanisms of phenomenon by tying together intergenerational transmission theory, socialization theory, and trauma theory. It learns from men how the father figure shaped by their childhood experiences has contributed to their violence, how the father's socialization to manhood has affected their intimate relations, and how they understand the effect of being exposed to the father's violence on their own intimate relationships and violence. Interviews with 25 Israeli men were analyzed thematically in the phenomenological approach. Thematic analysis revealed five themes describing men's experiences of their father's aggression and detachment; men's experience of their intimate relations; men's image of women; men's fear of being infected or conquered by their partners' emotionality; and an overarching theme describing the understanding that men and women are destined to live in an intractable conflict that only violence can end. The interviewees explained that when hardened detached men raised by violent fathers interact with an emotional woman, they experience painful feelings and are threatened by her emotionality; consequently, they will use violence against that threat to stop their pain. The findings support a multidimensional integrative perspective of IPV and call for a theoretical synthesis of these men's models of violence. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

The Role of Fathers' Involvement in Parenting and Adolescent Social Harms: A Narrative Review

Background: In today's society, the issue of fatherhood and involvement in the upbringing of children has been emphasized. The study aimed to investigate the impact of fathers' involvement in parenting on the social victimization of adolescents. Methods: The present research utilized a narrative review methodology, with technical terms being explained at the beginning. Relevant sources were identified by conducting searches on reputable academic databases, including ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Ovid, Elsevier, SID, and Magiran, covering the period from 2000 to 2023. The search keywords encompassed various related themes, such as fatherhood, absent fathers, childrearing, adolescents, father involvement, engagement, social problems, and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). Compilation procedures were conducted according to the SANRA checklist. In the initial search, 162 articles were obtained. After removing duplicates and evaluating their titles and abstracts, 9 articles were selected for the review. Results: Based on the findings of this literature review, paternal involvement in child-rearing is shown to positively affect the intellectual, moral, and social development of adolescents. Conversely, the absence of a father figure has been linked to negative outcomes such as drug addiction, decreased academic performance in both school and university, anti-social attitudes, separation anxiety, aggression, feelings of insecurity, and negative thoughts in teenagers. Conclusion: The involvement of fathers in upbringing of their children fosters critical thinking and reinforces children's empowerment in making pivotal decisions, while simultaneously acting as a safeguard against social risks.

Oedipal Humanity: Helplessness, Castration and the Society-Nature Neurosis

The essay aims to present the interpretation of the society-nature relationship as a reworking of the Oedipal complex and neuroses in the psyche. With the support of psychoanalysis and philosophy readings, I discuss the human feeling of continuation or discontinuation with nature and the impacts of the interdictions against instinctual desires between the erotic and destructive actions of the human being. I present two possible interpretations of the neurosis triggered in the collective superego with the transferential relations of the mother and father figures: Mother-Nature and Father-Nature. I analyze some examples derived from castration traumas in contemporary society: the fear of nature and the fear of death. Finally, I signal the I signal the need for continued research on the Oedipus derivations of the society-nature relationship, in order to relate geography and psychoanalysis to understand human neuroses in the world and time in which we live. Keywords: Eros; anguish; Oedipus; psychoanalysis; society.

Phenomenological Study of Fatherlessness in the Lives of Daughters

In a family, both the mother and father’s roles are equally important. A father's role goes beyond being the breadwinner or the head of the family; he is also expected to play a complete role in supporting a child's development and sharing responsibilities with the mother as a wife. When a father doesn't fulfill his role effectively, the issue of "fatherless" arises in the family, which has long-term impacts on the child, including a daughter's perception of her future life partner. Previous research has shown that the absence of a father's role at home (fatherlessness) can influence how a child interacts and shapes a child's preferences in choosing a partner or determining their romantic relationships. This study, employing phenomenology and in-depth interviews with four female informants who have experienced fatherlessness, draws on family communication, attachment theory, penetration theory, and gender role theory. The research findings highlight that the experience of fatherlessness becomes a major communication barrier, affecting the informants in initiating romantic relationships. Respondents express difficulties in trusting and maintaining open communication with close friends. They state that disappointment in their father figure leads them to seek a partner to fulfill their psychological needs related to the missing fatherly figure. The study also confirms factors influencing the perceptions of fatherless daughters in choosing life partners, including a father's involvement in child-rearing, healthy communication between father and child, traumatic experiences, and current parent-child communication relationships. This research can serve as a reference for further studies interested in examining family communication from the perspective of the father's role and the communication between daughters and their fathers.

Negation of Negation: Father as a Vanishing Mediator in Orhan Pamuk’s The Red-Haired Woman

The Red-Haired Woman is an atypical addition to the oeuvre of Orhan Pamuk as it deviates from the usual politico-historical thematic and puts myth at the forefront. The novel intersperses ancient myths and legends with personal history to weave a complex narrative in which characters are individuals as well as types. In this essay, the argument is built on the premise that the ‘father figure’ in Orhan Pamuk’s novel The Red-Haired Woman acts as a ‘vanishing mediator’ for the actualisation of the son as a ‘fully constituted capitalist individual.’ Cem, the protagonist, works as an apprentice to a well digger and in the process is transformed into something that is the very negation of his father’s ideals and, in turn, his own son has to go through the same transformation to return to the first movement of the dialectic. Frederic Jameson, apropos Max Weber, puts forward the notion of a ‘mediator’ that brings about a certain transformation and after that “it has no further reason for being and disappears from the historical scene” (78). In Weber’s view, the pervasiveness of Protestant ethicssushered in an ascetic attitude that perceived work as something sacred. This sanctity of labour led to surplus capital and thus a religious outlook brought in its antagonistic ideology. The movement is dialectical as the mediator is not an ‘other’ but an element of ‘pure difference’ arising out of the term itself (Žižek 181). The article uses textual analysis as a method to read the selected text. Keywords: Vanishing Mediator, Negation of Negation, Oedipus, Shahnameh, Myth

G. H. von Wright on Logical Empiricism

Georg Henrik von Wright (1916–2003) started his studies in theoretical philosophy at the University of Helsinki in 1934. His teacher, Professor Eino Kaila (1890–1958), was an associate of the Vienna Circle who had changed the course of Finnish philosophy with his own version of logical empiricism. Under Kaila’s supervision, von Wright wrote his early studies on probability and defended his doctoral thesis The Logical Problem of Induction in 1941. Von Wright met Ludwig Wittgenstein in Cambridge in 1939 and 1947 and eventually became his successor there in 1948–1951. Later, von Wright characterized these two philosophers as his “father figures”: “Kaila had turned me into a logical positivist or empiricist. Wittgenstein, on the other hand, thoroughly eradicated this personality of mine.” This article studies von Wright’s changing relation to logical empiricism. The main sources include his correspondence with Kaila in 1937–1958 and his books Den logiska empirismen (in Swedish in 1943; in Finnish in 1945) and Logik, filosofi och språk (in Swedish in 1957, in Finnish in 1958). In his “Intellectual Autobiography” (1989), von Wright described the former book as “a farewell to the philosophy of my student years”. Wittgenstein’s influence can be seen in von Wright’s denial of the unity of science and his cool cultural pessimism as expressed in his critical essays. But it is also evident that logic and exact thinking continued to be central tools and ingredients of his subsequent and highly appreciated work as an analytic philosopher.

‘A Universal Father and Son Story’? The Representation of Father-Son Relationships in Zach’s Ceremony, In My Blood It Runs, and Robbie Hood

ABSTRACT First Nations boys and men are heavily freighted with colonial stereotypes that give them to be antisocial, drug-addicted, violent, and harmful to their own communities. While men are consistently represented as neglectful or abusive fathers, Aboriginal boys are depicted as potential criminals whose childhood is blighted, and who lack guidance from suitable father figures or male role models. This article addresses three depictions of father-son relationships which engage different strategies for addressing negative stereotypes of Indigenous boys. Aaron Petersen and Alec Doomadgee’s Zach Ceremony (2016) is analysed in terms of its internalisation of settler-colonial problematisations of Indigenous masculinities and over-investment in the male role-model discourse that frames settler disparagement of Aboriginal communities. I then turn to In My Blood It Runs (2019) and Robbie Hood (2019) as examples of representations that articulate more complex and ambivalent navigations of colonial stereotypes and appropriations of ‘Indigenous masculinities’, and that largely avoid and critique settler discourse on Aboriginal boyhood.

Authoritarianism and the Female Psyche

This article examines the impact of an authoritarian inner figure on the female psyche, framed within the historical and cultural context of Ukraine. This clinical case study of a young patient, referred to as “M.,” reveals how rigid self-defenses and a lack of genuine pleasure in life can stem from the absence of a father figure and an internalized authoritarian structure, which is associated with the Father archetype. Through the therapeutic processes of dream analysis and intervention, M. confronted her deep-seated fears of revolution, familial conflicts, and internal authoritarianism. This study illuminates the oppressive effects of authoritarian dynamics on personal development and underscores the necessity of fostering inner democracy—an internal sense of fairness and autonomy—for psychological growth and fulfillment.

Dampak Pola Asuh Fatherless dalam Al-Qur'an: Study Kritis Parenting dalam Kisah Nabi Ya'kub

This research aims to investigate the impact of fatherless parenting as depicted in the Qur'an, especially through the story of the Prophet Ya'qub. The research method used is a critical analysis of parenting practices seen in the narrative of the Koran, with a focus on the role and influence of fathers in shaping the character of their children. This research describes fatherless parenting in the context of the life of the Prophet Ya'qub, who is the central figure in a complex and intriguing family story in the Qur'an. The results of the analysis highlight the various impacts that arise due to the absence of a father figure in the process of forming children's character. One of the main findings is the importance of the father's role as a family leader who provides moral direction and emotional support to children. Father absence can cause emotional instability and internal conflict in children and increase the risk of them falling into negative behavior. Apart from that, this research also explores the Prophet Ya'qub's efforts to overcome the challenges he faced as a single father. An in-depth analysis of the strategies used by the Prophet Ya'qub in raising his children provides valuable insight into the importance of a father's presence and influence in the family. The findings of this research provide an important contribution to our understanding of the importance of fathers' roles in the process of children's character formation, as well as their implications for contemporary parenting practices. The practical implications of this research include a better understanding of fatherless parenting and efforts that can be made to overcome its negative impacts in modern society.

Feminen Characterization of The God

This study investigates how monotheistic religions depict God with masculine or feminine attributes, considering historical context. The issue arises from questioning the portrayal of a masculine God within these religions, influenced by a patriarchal socio-cultural backdrop. Instances mainly from Christianity and lesser from Judaism and Islam, the study analyzes the characteristics of religious theological language used in the depiction of God. In this context, we explore the linguistic challenge encountered by religious traditions when employing anthropomorphic language. Since the core issue revolves around expressing and labeling the divine, the paper initiates with a conceptual examination of God’s characterization as either masculine or feminine. In this analysis, tracing back historically, archaeological and anthropological evidence indicates that language used to describe God was initially predominantly feminine. Feminist perspectives contend that over time, particularly within monotheistic religions, this language has become masculine and that this historical shift has been a major factor in the social and cultural exclusion of women. Against this claim, the study aims to substantiate the claim that despite the effective historical dominance of the theological masculine language, the feminine divine image persists in both theistic and non-theistic traditions. Both the Holy Scriptures and early theological writings occasionally employ feminine language when discussing God, although less frequently than masculine language. Within this context, anthropomorphic depictions of God in the Holy Books of monotheistic religions—where God is perceived as an immaterial being—are interpreted metaphorically, analogically, or symbolically. In particular, the mystical traditions of these religions have emphasized feminine qualities more intensely in their depiction of the divine. They portray God not only as a father or male figure but also with feminine attributes, such as a mother, lover, or friend. These traditions contend that qualities like divine beauty and mercy find their fullest expression in women and the feminine manifestation of existence. Notably, the Nag Hammadi tradition, rooted in Jewish mysticism, highlights the feminine dimensions of the divine, emphasizing love and compassion. Medieval Christian mystics such as Meister Eckhart and Julian of Norwich also emphasized the feminine dimension of God in their experience of the divine. Similarly, within Islamic Sufism, influenced by the Our’an’s balance and harmony of tanzih(exoneratin God from human attributes) and tashbih (drawing similitude) the Ibn Arabi tradition, emphasizing the feminine portrayal of the divine. They recognized the divine presence within the feminine elements of creation. Additionally, a lesser-known figure, Molla al-Jaziri, dealt extensively with the theme of woman as a divine mirror. This study aimed aligns with the feminist theological approach, advocating for the reinterpretation of theological and religious language in order to liberate it from the dominance of a patriarchal language and reveal its feminine aspect. Additionally, study also suggests further research by examining specific time periods, approaches and individual scholars’ perspectives.

Feminine Characterization of The God

This study investigates how monotheistic religions depict God with masculine or feminine attributes, considering historical context. The issue arises from questioning the portrayal of a masculine God within these religions, influenced by a patriarchal socio-cultural backdrop. Instances mainly from Christianity and lesser from Judaism and Islam, the study analyzes the characteristics of religious theological language used in the depiction of God. In this context, we explore the linguistic challenge encountered by religious traditions when employing anthropomorphic language. Since the core issue revolves around expressing and labeling the divine, the paper initiates with a conceptual examination of God’s characterization as either masculine or feminine. In this analysis, tracing back historically, archaeological and anthropological evidence indicates that language used to describe God was initially predominantly feminine. Feminist perspectives contend that over time, particularly within monotheistic religions, this language has become masculine and that this historical shift has been a major factor in the social and cultural exclusion of women. Against this claim, the study aims to substantiate the claim that despite the effective historical dominance of the theological masculine language, the feminine divine image persists in both theistic and non-theistic traditions. Both the Holy Scriptures and early theological writings occasionally employ feminine language when discussing God, although less frequently than masculine language. Within this context, anthropomorphic depictions of God in the Holy Books of monotheistic religions—where God is perceived as an immaterial being—are interpreted metaphorically, analogically, or symbolically. In particular, the mystical traditions of these religions have emphasized feminine qualities more intensely in their depiction of the divine. They portray God not only as a father or male figure but also with feminine attributes, such as a mother, lover, or friend. These traditions contend that qualities like divine beauty and mercy find their fullest expression in women and the feminine manifestation of existence. Notably, the Nag Hammadi tradition, rooted in Jewish mysticism, highlights the feminine dimensions of the divine, emphasizing love and compassion. Medieval Christian mystics such as Meister Eckhart and Julian of Norwich also emphasized the feminine dimension of God in their experience of the divine. Similarly, within Islamic Sufism, influenced by the Our’an’s balance and harmony of tanzih(exoneratin God from human attributes) and tashbih (drawing similitude) the Ibn Arabi tradition, emphasizing the feminine portrayal of the divine. They recognized the divine presence within the feminine elements of creation. Additionally, a lesser-known figure, Molla al-Jaziri, dealt extensively with the theme of woman as a divine mirror. This study aimed aligns with the feminist theological approach, advocating for the reinterpretation of theological and religious language in order to liberate it from the dominance of a patriarchal language and reveal its feminine aspect. Additionally, study also suggests further research by examining specific time periods, approaches and individual scholars’ perspectives.

Nabokov and Freud: Solus Rex vs Oedipus Rex

Abstract: The enigma of Nabokov's lifelong enmity with Freud perpetually attracts research attention. In this article, the author analyzes the Russian-American writer Vladimir Nabokov's demonization of Freud by surveying previous explanations of this phenomenon and proposing an alternative explanation of Nabokov perceiving Freud not as a "father figure" or a "precursor," but as a dangerous and influential rival within the field of psychology as opposed to literature. The author asserts that Nabokov's feud with Freud is centered on the question of the soul. In particular, Nabokov strives to position himself within the realm of "soul interpretation" or "soul fiction" as a "subject supposed to know" and to establish himself as a superior hermeneutical authority. Finally, the author draws a parallel between Nabokov's attitude to Freud and Freud's approach to Nietzsche.

Bilingual Legacies: Father Figures in Self-Writing from Barcelona by Anna Casas Aguilar (review)

Bilingual Legacies: Father Figures in Self-Writing from Barcelona by Anna Casas Aguilar (review)

They are the best: The significance of others to emerging adults and well‐being

AbstractIt is surprising how little we know about the relationships that matter to emerging adults, and we propose research to bridge that gap. First, we will ask emerging adults to generate a list of the individuals who matter. The list will be submitted via open‐ended text that we will code for relationship type. Our first aim is to gain information about the frequency and diversity of relationships that matter to emerging adults. We hypothesise that participants who list more relationships will have better well‐being and less loneliness. Second, we will use an adapted version of the Mattering Scale to assess how much specific relationships matter to participants by asking them to focus on five common close relationships (i.e., mother figures, father figures, romantic partners, best friends and closest‐in‐age sibling). For each relationship that exists for the participant, how much each relationship matters will be measured. We hypothesise that failing to mention a specific relationship in the open‐ended portion of the study will be related to lower perceived mattering of that relationship when participants report on mattering. Finally, we hypothesise that when specified relationships matter more to an individual, they will have less loneliness and better well‐being.

Education as an arena for anti-feminism: devaluation of femininity in primary education

ABSTRACT In the European context, there have been discussions for many years about how the number of female and male teachers in primary education should be more balanced. This story is also linked to the deteriorating school performance of boys, who are perceived as lacking male role models in schools. Thus, the feminization of primary education is often seen as an undesirable condition that should be rectified. This pejorative perception of feminization of education is related to the broader trends of anti-feminist politics, and this anti-feminist backlash is gradually being introduced into education as well. This article presents two case studies, Germany and Czechia. The analysis is based on data collected in 2015–2020 from ethnographic research in elementary schools, data from analysis of policy documents and media output, data from a systematic literature review, and quantitative research. In conclusion, three re-masculinization strategies used to devalue femininity in education are presented. First, ‘female climate’ as a reason for boys’ failure; second, father figures missing in education; third, promoting ‘gender diversity ‘as pretext to bring back more men and masculinity. All strategies share an antifeminist core because they all devalue women and femininity and reinforce the current gender order.

Life and works of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray: A man with ultra luminosity

Abstract Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray was one of the most prominent scientists and an industrialist of the Indian subcontinent. He brought academia and industry under one umbrella with his farsightedness and dedication. His inventions in synthetic chemistry and profound knowledge of ancient Rasayana Vidya (chemistry) recognized him as a father figure in the Indian chemical industry. He was born in the early sixties of the nineteenth century with a profound family background in Bengal province. Academically profound, Ray acquired several awards and accolades in his life. His entrepreneurship in the Industrial setup in India made him the father of modern chemistry. The man with simple living and high thinking left for his heavenly abode at eighty-three, leaving the footsteps for future generations.

The Influence of Fatherless on Aggression Behavior in Adolescents

Adolescence is a transitional age from childhood to adulthood so it can give rise to psychological problems, one of which is aggressive behavior. Teenagers give rise to brawling, bullying and other juvenile delinquency. Teenagers pay less attention to the norms or rules that apply in their environment and behave arbitrarily, which is quite disturbing to society. There are many factors that cause aggressive behavior, namely economic problems and the absence of a father figure in one's development. The absence of a father figure (Fatherless) will affect teenagers' psychology, including channeling their emotions and showing aggressive behavior. The aim of this research is to find out how fatherlessness influences adolescent aggressive behavior. The research method used is a quantitative research method using a scale in collecting data. The father's role scale was adapted from aspects according to Lamb (2010) which include paternal accessibility, paternal engagement, and paternal responsibility. The aggressive tendencies scale was adapted from Buss and Perry (1992), namely based on the forms of physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility. The results of research conducted on 200 teenagers show that there is a positive influence between fatherlessness and aggressive behavior in teenagers. The magnitude of the correlation between fatherlessness and aggressive behavior is 0.022 with a significance level or p of 0.038, a coefficient with a positive sign indicates a positive direction of correlation. The hypothesis which states that there is a positive influence between fatherlessness and aggressive behavior is accepted.

“The Truth Hurts But Silence Kills”: Restitutio ad Integrum and Scriptotherapy in Mario d’Offizi’s Autobiography Bless Me Father

Bless Me Father, the autobiography of South African-Italian poet Mario d’Offizi, enriches the spectrum of masculinities presented in South African white male poets’ autobiographies. It narrates the story of a “marginal” white man growing up under apartheid, and provides an innovative testimony within the rich autobiographical tradition of South Africa. The focus in this article is placed on traumatic episodes in the author’s past and on the relationship with a predatory father figure. The conflict between the choice to remain silent about hurtful events and the desire to expose them is the central dialectic of psychological trauma, and scriptotherapy is the medium used by d’Offizi to grapple with his haunting past and seek healing. Bless Me Father, this article argues, is a story of pain, loss, survival, and triumph over adversities that occupies a distinctive space within post-apartheid South African literature.