Criticizes accepted premises regarding family influence on the child: (1) particular external conditions are inevitably associated with fixed consequences for all children; (2) some psychological structures created by early experience are stable over time; and (3) the mother-infant bond is the primary determinant of the child's future…

Theories furthering understanding of the effects of child rearing practices on psychiatric disturbance are briefly reviewed. Particular attention is given to family dynamics, the double-bind hypothesis, and the development of schizophrenia and related border line syndromes that lead to psychotic phenomena. The issue of child rearing practices is…

Argues that Roe's theory of personality development and career choice has been misunderstood and used inappropriately in research on parent influence on career choice. Proposes reexamination of Roe's ideas about the role of parents in shaping childhood experiences and children's psychological needs. (SK)

Includes "Revisiting Roe: Comments on Brown, Lum and Voyle (1997)" (Davis); "Putting Roe in Perspective" (Lunneborg); "Roe Revisited: Why?" (Osipow); and "Without Roe" (Brown, Voyle). (SK)

Maintains that context effects and genetic effects are among the confounding factors that make it impossible to reject the null hypothesis of zero long-term parenting effects on child outcomes. Asserts that group socialization theory attributes outside-the-home socialization to identification with a peer group and assimilation of group norms, but…

This discussion argues that two approaches are helpful in reconciling the dissonance and conflict between attitudes and behavior in families, that results from faulty expectations in childrearing processes. One such approach is to change attitudes so they conform to actual behavior. An alternative approach is to change behavioral patterns to make…

This paper presents a literature review and the author's views on the male role in parenting, including the choice not to parent. The traditional view of male parenting is reviewed, with an emphasis on the effects of the traditional paternal role on the development of children. The materials shift in focus to a broader consideration of the…