Fatherhood in different decades: Interactions between German fathers and their infants in 1977 and 2001

Abstract

The present study about fatherhood in Germany addresses the issue of changing paternal behaviour in the German middle class between 1977 and 2001. Against the background of the ongoing phase of individualization in Germany, videotaped interactions between fathers and their 3-months-old infants are analysed. The results reveal a shift towards more autonomy and independence in the fathers' behaviour. This can be seen in increases and decreases of particular paternal behaviour patterns, which are related to either independence and autonomy or interdependence and relatedness. In sum, between the two points in time the fathers show an increase in the frequencies of object stimulation and contingent responses to infant signals in the face-to-face-context on the one hand and a decrease in the frequencies of body contact and interactional warmth on the other.

Acknowledgments

The assessment of cohort 1 was funded by the German Research Council (DFG) with a grant to HK.

We thank Antje Beck, Ester Gittler, Vanessa Tepe, and Elisabeth Schneiders for their help with data analysis. Last but not least we thank all the families for participating in our study.