The Discovery of Difference: On the Noteworthiness of the Father for his Child

Abstract

The ten contributions to this anthology all address the relevance of the father for the baby and infant, employing psychoanalytical and therapeutic perspectives, as well as attachment theory and systemic theory. Among other things, the texts analyse growing up without a father, developing attachment, child play, and sleep disorders with a special focus on the development of dyadic and triadic relations between father, mother, and child. The individual reports were written by scientists and therapists in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and were inspired by the 2001 annual Meeting of the “German Speaking Association for Infant Mental Health (GAIMH).” This publication offers an overview of current psychological research and debates about early father-child relationships.