Father-Fantasies and Father-Typing in Father-Separated Children

The average American father differs considerably from the classical stereotype of a punishment-threatening, tyrant-giant as depicted in European psychoanalytic theory. Still the local U. S. culture is largely patriarchal and paternal opinions are still decisive in the settling of most major family issues. Although the frequently absent father may relegate to the more often present mother the majority of actual punishment executions, and coming home from work, he may be seldom in a mood to institute disciplinary measures (13, p. 259), his children (above the age of three and one-half years) are, nevertheless, accurately aware of the preferential power position that the father has in the family.2 The psychological nature of a child's relationship to his father is, therefore, of great consequence to the child's present security and later outlook. It is not surprising that complications in this relationship are found in the history of many individuals with adjustment difficulties and that clinical studies of young adults have shown that respect and affection for the father is more characteristic for satisfactory home adjustment than the presence of sentiments of respect and affection for the mother (13). These impressions gained in clinical practice warrant our research interests in theories and facts concerning father-child relationships.