Insight: Needs and Development of Young Men
The rise of single-parent households has made it increasingly common in the U.S. for children to grow up without a present father. This phenomenon Has been routinely studied and tied to both mental and behavioral problems in boys and young adult males. However, there has been less research and focus on fathers that are present in the lives of their children and the negative impact that they can have on cognitive and behavioral development of their sons. In evaluating the unique needs and challenges of this population, this naturally begs the question: what types of paternal influences are damaging to young boys and young adult men? Are absent fathers necessarily more detrimental to male development than the presence of a harmful paternal relationship? In exploring these questions, I seek to identify broad needs/intervention opportunities for young men and to discuss the paternal circumstances that best serve healthy development in young men.
Need #1 for boys without regular interaction with their fathers is emotion regulation with an emphasis on schooling behavior.
Boys have roughly twice the behavioral issues than girls. Furthermore, emotional dysregulation and negative behaviors such as bullying are on the rise in this population. An analysis of family structures highlights the point that single-parent households have decidedly negative impacts on child behavior, with the supplementation of stepfathers failing to alter the effects. It is also clear that interactions with fathers during toddlerhood and continual paternal presence throughout childhood has a significant impact on children's willingness to learn and perform in school. It has become clear that fathers have a greater influence on child behavior than was previously assumed.
Need #2 is anger management.
Several studies in young males have tied aggression to the perception of their father’s rejection, their view of traditional masculine roles and their own perceived levels of aggression. Interestingly, adopting strong masculine views from their fathers can elicit anger. This is mainly due to elevated self-imposed expectations of how they should feel and act, ultimately leading to aggression. Lastly, it is clear that young men also develop anger because of their proneness to feeling shame. In these situations, anger can replace shame, directing negative emotions away from themselves and often towards someone or something else.
Need #3 is behavioral therapy and possibly substance abuse counseling.
Lastly, looking at the difference in delinquency rates between fatherless males and males with fathers that are abrasive another interesting point. We know there is a plethora of negative impacts of paternal absenteeism, which has sparked a movement to reintegrate fathers into the lives of their children. However, there is little consideration of research that shows that fathers who are violent, drug abusers, or are aggressive are likely to pass on these behaviors, as sons are often eager to take on their father’s values. As a result, young men who are exposed to violence or hostility from their fathers, often display similar patterns of behavior, leading to higher rates of delinquency. This means that the simple presence of a father is not enough, contrary to popular belief.
Tying It All Together
Data shows that fatherlessness is a clear and common predictor of emotional and behavioral dysregulation in boys. However, it also became clear that the presence of a father alone is not sufficient to curb such dysregulation. Young males have higher rates of behavioral issues when compared to females. They also are markedly more aggressive, often adopting such behaviors either directly from their fathers or through their fathers rigid and traditional masculine worldviews. Furthermore, young males in particular benefit greatly from regular positive interactions and involvement with school and daily activities with their fathers during childhood. Such interventions could lead to reduced aggression, improved attention, and better performance in school. Simply put, present and attentive fathers produce well-adjusted and peaceful sons. For those who are not privileged enough to have this, potential therapeutic interventions that can serve this community include emotion regulation, anger management, behavioral therapy, and possibly substance abuse counseling.
