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Paternal—baby responsiveness and involvement
Author(s) -
Frodi Ann M.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0355(198023)1:3<150::aid-imhj2280010304>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - developmental psychology , psychology , hormone , biology , physiology , endocrinology
This paper searches the literature for evidence of paternal responsiveness to and involvement with infants. The emerging picture of paternal involvement in human and subhuman species and in different cultural settings is one of great variability. No support is found for an hormonal explanation of the assumption that females are more responsive to babies than males are. It is suggested that sensitivity is a consequence rather than a precursor of involvement with infants. The distinction between paternal capacity and performance is emphasized and the discrepancy attributed to sex‐stereotyping pressures.