The Evolving Father

Aging

Grandfathers and Their Brood

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on February 24, 2016

Evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers waxes about his children and grandchildren near the end of his wild ride of an autobiolography. Let's shine a light on grandfathers.

Evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers waxes about his children and grandchildren near the end of his wild ride of an autobiolography. Let's shine a light on grandfathers.

Wisdom

Great, Great, Great, Great…Ape Men

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on December 7, 2015

Some new books and recent fossil finds spawn these reflections on great apes, cultural transmission and the ways of wise old men. Thanks to Lamarck too.

Some new books and recent fossil finds spawn these reflections on great apes, cultural transmission and the ways of wise old men. Thanks to Lamarck too.

Career

Men Seeking Health

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on September 16, 2015

Masculinity is often viewed as a detriment to one's health, and for good reason. Men tend to live shorter lives than women. But men's work and family lives can have both positive and negative impacts on men's health. Men's families may help motivate their health-seeking behaviors, even as the time needed to maintain work and family life can help shape a "dad bod."

Masculinity is often viewed as a detriment to one's health, and for good reason. Men tend to live shorter lives than women. But men's work and family lives can have both positive and negative impacts on men's health. Men's families may help motivate their health-seeking behaviors, even as the time needed to maintain work and family life can help shape a "dad bod."

Child Development

Technology, Turing and Child Development

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on August 6, 2015

What happens when you go with kids to the Tech Museum of Innovation? You start thinking about kids, technology, and learning machines.

What happens when you go with kids to the Tech Museum of Innovation? You start thinking about kids, technology, and learning machines.

Sex

The Ratio of Love

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on June 5, 2015

The sex ratio influences men's mating and parenting effort. In a mating market, more men can mean more stable relationships and child-rearing. Yet this may be surprising when we also imagine men's lives in male-dominated social niches, like frontier mining towns, where plenty of gambling, prostitution and gun-toting can prevail.

The sex ratio influences men's mating and parenting effort. In a mating market, more men can mean more stable relationships and child-rearing. Yet this may be surprising when we also imagine men's lives in male-dominated social niches, like frontier mining towns, where plenty of gambling, prostitution and gun-toting can prevail.

Epigenetics

Makings of a Child

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on May 5, 2015

What is a father? How does assisted reproduction reshape how we think of fathers and mothers, and what are the consequences for children's genetic, epigenetic and cultural legacies?

What is a father? How does assisted reproduction reshape how we think of fathers and mothers, and what are the consequences for children's genetic, epigenetic and cultural legacies?

Education

Failing Our Fathers

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on April 6, 2015

Many studies of fatherhood leave out nonresidential fathers, particularly those of lower educational and financial backgrounds. A new book by Ronald Mincy and colleagues offers rich insight into the challenges faced by U.S. economically vulnerable nonresidential fathers.

Many studies of fatherhood leave out nonresidential fathers, particularly those of lower educational and financial backgrounds. A new book by Ronald Mincy and colleagues offers rich insight into the challenges faced by U.S. economically vulnerable nonresidential fathers.

Parenting

Fatherhood by the Numbers

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on February 19, 2015

Fatherhood lags behind motherhood, but is also rising. That's fatherhood by the numbers. Scholars also call for increased research on fatherhood interventions, including more rigorous research designs to discern what the effects of those interventions on children will be.

Fatherhood lags behind motherhood, but is also rising. That's fatherhood by the numbers. Scholars also call for increased research on fatherhood interventions, including more rigorous research designs to discern what the effects of those interventions on children will be.

Child Development

Immaculate Conception

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on December 12, 2014

Mom with newborn baby--photo icons. But where's dad in the mix? He's often taking the photo rather than caught on film. Ian Beesley is spurred to action--taking photos of fathers holding their babies.

Mom with newborn baby--photo icons. But where's dad in the mix? He's often taking the photo rather than caught on film. Ian Beesley is spurred to action--taking photos of fathers holding their babies.

Environment

How Did Nature Create Involved Human Fathers?

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on December 4, 2014

By what processes are human fathers fashioned? Chance mutations? Sophisticated "evo-devo" processes modeled by Andreas Wagner in his new book, "Arrival of the Fittest"? By developmental plasticity and the "Baldwin effect"? Let's think about this.

By what processes are human fathers fashioned? Chance mutations? Sophisticated "evo-devo" processes modeled by Andreas Wagner in his new book, "Arrival of the Fittest"? By developmental plasticity and the "Baldwin effect"? Let's think about this.

Sex

Sharing the Joys and Responsibilities of Fatherhood

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on November 12, 2014

Partible paternity refers to shared fatherhood, and is found among many South American Amerindian societies. A new study explores adaptive aspects of partible paternity among Ache women and men in Paraguay. Shared fatherhood can serve as a form of social insurance against risk. The findings illustrate the rich social context to partnering and paternal care.

Partible paternity refers to shared fatherhood, and is found among many South American Amerindian societies. A new study explores adaptive aspects of partible paternity among Ache women and men in Paraguay. Shared fatherhood can serve as a form of social insurance against risk. The findings illustrate the rich social context to partnering and paternal care.

Boys and girls show sex differences in their choice of Halloween costumes. Boys lean toward superheroes, and girls' top choices feature princesses. Here, we draw upon Joyce Benenson's recent book on sex differences in children's social behavior ("Warriors and Worriers") to make sense of these costume choices, couched within an evolutionary perspective.

Diet

Paleo Dads?

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on September 25, 2014

There has been lots of interest in the Paleo Diet or in other ways to live like our ancestors. But what if we tried to father as "Paleo Dads"? What would our lives be like, and would that make any sense?

There has been lots of interest in the Paleo Diet or in other ways to live like our ancestors. But what if we tried to father as "Paleo Dads"? What would our lives be like, and would that make any sense?

Career

Fathering for the Beltway

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on September 3, 2014

Stemming from a fall 2013 NIH panel discussion on fathers, Nan Astone and Elizabeth Peters provide a sketch of U.S. fatherhood. How has American fatherhood been changing in recent decades, and what might be some policy implications?

Stemming from a fall 2013 NIH panel discussion on fathers, Nan Astone and Elizabeth Peters provide a sketch of U.S. fatherhood. How has American fatherhood been changing in recent decades, and what might be some policy implications?

Oxytocin

Hormones and Fatherhood

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on August 20, 2014

A new review paper by Lee Gettler pulls together data, methods, and concepts in a discussion of hormones and fatherhood.

A new review paper by Lee Gettler pulls together data, methods, and concepts in a discussion of hormones and fatherhood.

Mating

Evolution of Human Fatherhood

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on August 13, 2014

How did human fathers evolve? Here, we consider 7 take-home points highlighted in a new review paper that focuses on the evolution of human fatherhood.

How did human fathers evolve? Here, we consider 7 take-home points highlighted in a new review paper that focuses on the evolution of human fatherhood.

Many children in Caribbean societies are born into visiting relationships, or relationships in which the parents live apart. How do history and contemporary challenges account for visiting relationships?

It's World Cup time. How many fans (and players) have their fathers to thank for helping encourage a passion for sports? Let's explore how dads may help stoke their kids' soccer, baseball, football (you name it) fires.

While pregnancy and postpartum phases have sex-specific effects, they can also amplify differences in sexual desire.

X Y Chromosomes

Do Fathers Matter? They do in Paul Raeburn's new book.

Peter B. Gray Ph.D. on May 28, 2014

A new book explores the science of fatherhood. Paul Raeburn's "Do Fathers' Matter?" draws on classic and recent studies to provide compelling stories putting fathers in another light.

A new book explores the science of fatherhood. Paul Raeburn's "Do Fathers' Matter?" draws on classic and recent studies to provide compelling stories putting fathers in another light.