The Evolutionary Roles of Mothers and Fathers in Raising Children

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This chapter delves into the evolutionary reasons behind the distinct roles that mothers and fathers play in raising children. It explores the biological constraints and brain activations associated with each parental role, as well as the importance of fathers in scaffolding a child's development and engaging in rough and tumble play. The chapter also discusses the impact of fathers on children's mental health, particularly during adolescence, and addresses the correlation between teen girl depression and fatherless homes.

Dr Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist at Oxford University, a researcher into the role of fatherhood across time and an author.

The modern world has made dads surplus to requirements in many ways. The deadbeat dad is such a meme in sitcoms and cartoons now that it's no surprise men don't feel they have a role in child rearing. But just how important are fathers to the development of boys and girls? And what don't we know about their impact?

Expect to learn how fathers saved the human race when babies heads got too big, whether it's normal for dads to not feel love for their baby when it's born, the most important ways dads can bond with their kids, whether dads are more important to girls' or boys' development, what pushback Anna got for writing a pro-father book and much more...

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