Childhood represents a highly formative period in an individual's life, during which caregivers, including parents, grandparents, and other authority figures, significantly influence personality and behavior. Children absorb the actions and attitudes displayed by their parents, siblings, and other family members.

Often, when a man demonstrates toxic behavior in his relationships, he is referred to as a ‘Mumma’s boy,’ implying that his reliance on his mother undermines his ability to connect intimately with his partner.

Nevertheless, a father's influence is equally significant in shaping a man's conduct within a relationship.

Research published in Evolutionary Psychological Science investigates this relationship, focusing on how a father's engagement affects his son's romantic relationships in adulthood.

A strained relationship with a father during childhood can have repercussions in adult relationships.

The findings indicate that when a father is minimally involved or emotionally unavailable, his son is likely to mirror this emotional distance in his own romantic relationships as an adult, leading him to believe that minimal effort is required in such connections. Sons often look to their fathers for guidance and emotional support.

In the absence of paternal engagement, these sons may adopt a pattern of non-commitment from an early age. Consequently, in their adult relationships, they tend to invest less emotionally, having not observed a model of commitment during their formative years. This can result in a lack of emotional expression and a reluctance to dedicate time to their own relationships as they mature.

Quality matters

It is commonly believed that an emotional void arises when a father departs, undergoes a divorce, or is frequently absent due to work commitments. Nevertheless, the research highlighted that the quality of the relationship between father and son is more significant than the father's physical presence.

This situation can lead to a cycle in which sons imitate their fathers' behaviors in their own relationships and subsequently with their sons, perpetuating a harmful generational pattern of emotional unavailability.

While mothers typically assume a more prominent role in fostering commitment and emotional involvement, sons often still emulate their fathers' behaviors in these aspects.

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