#books
#psychology
The Absent Father:
Effect on Daughters.
The extreme physical, psychological, social and financial challenges faced by Single Mothers in leading a quality life and in bringing up their children is a problem usually swept under the carpet by the society. The problems are more acute if the child is a girl. The Absent Father is a big question mark in their life.
“The Absent Father Effect on Daughters: Father Desire, Father Wounds”
by Susan E. Schwartz delves deeply into the psychological and emotional impacts of having an absent father.
1. Impact of Absence:
The absence of a father can lead to profound feelings of loss and longing in daughters, affecting their self-esteem and identity.
2. Father Wounds:
Daughters with absent fathers often carry emotional wounds that manifest in their adult relationships, making it difficult for them to trust and form secure attachments.
3. Idealisation and Reality:
The idealization of the absent father can create a “tomb of illusion,” where daughters hold unrealistic expectations of their fathers and potential partners.
4. Mirroring Effect:
The “dead father effect” highlights how the emotional absence of a father can affect a daughter’s ability to see herself clearly, often leading to self-esteem issues.
5. Negative Father Complex:
An absent father can contribute to a negative father complex, where daughters struggle with internalized negative beliefs about men and authority figures.
6. Archetypal Dynamics:
The book explores how archetypal dynamics, such as the “bad dad” and “father desire,” play out in the psyches of daughters, influencing their behavior and emotional well-being.
7. Authenticity:
Understanding and processing these father wounds is crucial for daughters to become their authentic selves, breaking free from the shadows of their absent fathers.
8. Narcissistic Responses:
Daughters may develop narcissistic defenses as a way to cope with the emotional pain of an absent father, often masking deeper vulnerabilities.
9. Healing through Therapy:
Therapeutic interventions, including Jungian analysis, can help daughters confront and heal from their father wounds, enabling them to form healthier relationships.
10. Cultural and Collective Impacts:
The book also discusses how the absence of fathers affects daughters not only personally, but also within a broader cultural and collective context, emphasising the need for societal awareness and change.
