Evolutionary theory suggests that males of all species make a choice between investing their energies in raising their children and investing their energies in mating. In most organisms, the male invests his energies in mating, while the female cares for the young. This process of selection also shapes human reproductive decisions about the level of investment to be made in mating and parenting. Longitudinal data on 19th century Mormons was analyzed to determine the effects of reproductive strategies on children. Polygynous fathers who invested resources in multiple wives were compared to…
Designed for parents of adolescents, this book discusses the pressures teenagers feel about becoming sexually active and describes strategies parents can use to promote abstinence. Information is provided on the top ten pressures on teens to have sex, the effectiveness of using directive education with teenagers, and ways to talk to teenagers about abstinence. Following chapters explain the impact of peer pressure, and the influences of television, movies, music, advertizing, and the Internet. Facts about condoms and sexually transmitted diseases are also explained. The second part of the…
Designed for adolescents, this book discusses the pressures teenagers feel about becoming sexually active and provides information about teenage sexuality. Information is provided on the downward trend in teenage sexual activity, the top ten pressures on teens to have sex, the impact of peer pressure, and the influences of television, movies, and music. Facts about condoms and sexually transmitted diseases are also explained. The second part of the book discusses the power of teenagers to determine the course of their own lives, strategies for self-control, the five dimensions of sexual…
This text explores a broad range of perspectives on pregnancy and parenting at a young age from different international and cultural contexts, and looks at interventions and examples of good practice. Following an introduction, Chapter 1 provides statistics on teenage pregnancy and motherhood in the United Kingdom and other European countries, considers societal definitions of age, and discusses conceptualizations of sexuality, reproduction, and motherhood. Chapter 2 considers the Hmong in the United States as a community experiencing dramatic change while attempting to maintain its values,…
The father's role in child development and in the etiology of child maltreatment is examined in the context of families with absent fathers. Child maltreatment is defined, including subtle forms of emotional abuse and neglect, with an emphasis on the importance of the father's function in the family, which is generally ignored in the child abuse literature. The causes and consequences of paternal neglect or absence are contrasted with those of effective fathering. Not only do fathers have an influence--positive or negative--on how their children grow up, but they can affect the mother's…
