James M. Herzog's Father Hunger: Explorations with Adults and Children will quickly take its place both as a landmark contribution to development psychology and as an enduring classic in the clinical literature of psychoanalysis. We live in an era when a great many children grow up without a father, or, worse still, with fathers who traumatically abuse them. Yet, society continues to ignore the emotional price that children pay, and often continue to pay throughout their lives, for this tragic state of affairs. At the heart of this lack of compassionate responsibility is our collective…
red dot icon
Journal Article This article describes the development of solution-focused psychotherapy groups for incarcerated fathers at a medium security correctional facility. The solution-focused approach was implemented to avoid the strategies used by inmates to undermine insight-oriented and non-directive therapies. Emphasis was placed on the identification of problems, desired outcomes, and behaviors that would achieve the participant's goals. Program planners selected the cognitive-behavioral approach to group psychotherapy for its focus on the recognition of feelings and identification of successful methods of…
red dot icon
Journal Article Research on child development has increasingly emphasized the complexity of developmental processes, and this reconceptualization is reflected in recent research on the effects of child maltreatment as well. The author illustrates the value of studying maltreatment in the context of children's relationships, not only with their biological mothers, but with biological fathers and father figures as well. Ambiguities remain, however, suggesting that more must be discovered about the quality and longevity of the relationships between these men and both their partners and surrogate children to…
Fathers play an important role in child development, whether or not they reside with their children. However, an increasing number of children from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds are growing up without a father in the home. The authors describe strategies that mental health and social work professionals can use to support the participation of noncustodial fathers in the lives of their children. Specific considerations for divorced fathers, nonresidential fathers who never married their children's mother, and teen fathers are highlighted. The text describes the emotional experiences…
red dot icon
Journal Article A shortened form of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was used to examine the relationship between parenting styles and the psychological distress and offending patterns of a group of young male offenders held in custody in Scotland. High levels of psychological distress were linked with low parental care, but there was no association between psychological distres and parental control. Parental care was not a distinguishing factor in offending patterns, although high paternal control was linked with a younger age of first arrest. When interactions of paternal and maternal parenting styles…
The incarceration of a father can have a significant impact on the emotional development of his children, with many children experiencing dissociation, anxiety, loss, and anger. Factors that influence the child's response include the circumstances of the father's arrest, how the child hears about the arrest, and the mother's level of distress. This book describes the effects of imprisonment on fathers, their children, and the mothers of their children and explains how social workers can support family relationships in this difficult situation. The role of family relationships in the…
In recent years a number of programs have been initiated to provide incarcerated fathers with education and training in parenting skills. This chapter reviews research, theory and the evolving practice of such programs, including experiences of 125 inmates who have participated in parenting classes while in prison. The psychosocial and social needs of incarcerated fathers; recruitment and barriers; program goals; evaluation strategies; and a summary of core information to guide program development are presented. Common characteristics of imprisoned fathers and various prison parenting…
This examination of Judeo-Christian faith-based initiatives promoting responsible fatherhood explores the basic values and assumptions of such interventions and the characteristics of several successful programs. A number of barriers and challenges exist to faith-based fatherhood programs focused on improving the father-child-family relationship. The basic assumption of such programs is that to be a good father a man must become a man of God, the authors explain, and scriptures provide many examples and moral lessons about the behavior and character of a good father. Evangelical Protestant…
Brief
This book reminds parents of the challenges and stresses teens may be experiencing, and how these pressures influence teen behavior. The book reinforces the parenting skills that are essential to raising teenagers and keeping them out of trouble, and it explains exactly how to address challenging, risky, defiant, and anti-social behaviors. The book forcuses on effective communication: how to avoid making threats and put-downs, offer clear explanations, stick with the issues at hand, negotiate successfully, and stop interrogating or lecturing. The author uses examples from his practice to…
