Father figure

"[4] The APA Concise Dictionary of Psychology offers a more extensive definition: "a substitute for a person's biological father, who performs typical paternal functions and serves as an object of identification and attachment.

Studies by Parke and Clark-Stewart (2011) and Lamb (2010) have shown that fathers are more likely than mothers to engage in rough-and-tumble play with children.

[citation needed] Research found that there is a strong negative causal effect of father figure absence on a child’s social emotional development, specifically an increase in externalizing behaviors.

[citation needed] Results denote that psychological harm due to father figure absence in childhood persists throughout life.

[citation needed] There is inconsistent evidence supporting that there are negative effects on marriage and divorce, income, or college education.

[13] From a psychoanalytic point of view, Sigmund Freud described the father figure as essential in child development, specially in pre-Oedipal and Oedipal stages.