Why and How Males “Father” – An Evolutionary Anthropologist Examines Father Engagement
Dr. Anna Machin is an English Evolutionary Anthropologist who explores core human relationships. In this essay she notes that among our primate relatives, we are the only species with involved and empathetic father. “Why,” she asks, “did evolution favor engaged dads?” and “How does evolution help explain what dads actually do?” Machin’s look at “Human Fatherhood” starts from two simple observations: we are among the only 5% of mammals that have “investing fathers;” and the physiological changes that happen to men when they become fathers would not have been favored by evolution unless father investment was vital to our survival.
Our evolution presented challenges. Human babies are born underdeveloped due to the constraints of upright walking and large brains. Unlike primates who wean their young after several years, humans often do so within months. This evolutionary shift meant mothers were preoccupied with reproducing, necessitating another caregiver. Enter the father, the individual as genetically invested in the child as the mother.
Fathers evolved not just as providers but as educators. Across cultures, fathers teach their children essential survival skills, both technical and social. This "tag-along learning" or modeling is vital. In modern terms, we advise fathers to "Think out loud and feel out loud."
Dr. Machin emphasizes that evolution abhors redundancy. While mothers' brains light up in areas associated with affection and risk detection, fathers' brains activate areas related to planning and problem-solving. The bonding hormone, oxytocin, peaks in mothers and children during cuddling, but in fathers and children during play.
In today's world, fathers face unique challenges:
Misunderstanding Their Role: Many fathers underestimate their crucial role in their child's development.
Societal Pressures: Fathers often feel pressured to emulate maternal parenting styles, even when their natural instincts, like encouraging risk-taking, are beneficial.
Lack of Confidence: Absence of good role models or a guiding framework can leave fathers doubting their parenting abilities.
Modern Threats: Today, mental health issues pose a greater risk to children than physical dangers.
In our digital age, interpersonal skills are both eroding and becoming more vital. For half a million years, dads – or people in a father role – have led in preparing kids for the challenges of the wider world outside of the family. Despite our rapidly changing environment, fathers instinctively know their role. With the confidence that comes from awareness and a few strategies, they can expertly fulfill their evolutionary role: preparing children to thrive in a risky and changing world, by helping them learn to roll with the punches, keep their stuff together and connect with others."
