HOMO FATHER FIGURE
Posted on Friday, September 7, 2012
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SUMMARY
The typical setting of a family consists of a father, a mother and children. Ideally, the family provides its members with protection, companionship, security, and socialization. The child’s growth and development would always depend on the nurturing skills of the parents or on the persons significant to the child and the kind of environment a child has. This study is designed especially for those children who have lived with their gay father since their birth; a father who has become their model in shaping their own personality. The researchers explored these children’s experiences in having this kind of family set-up, with special attention to the growth and developmental factors of these children, specifically their moral, social, emotional, and sexual aspects.
This study aimed to explore the social and emotional functioning and the sexual development of children which are constructed from the parenting style of their gay fathers. This study further attempted to generate a model on learned behaviors.
The research design assimilated the input, the processes, and the output of the study. The input consisted of the related theories with the interrelated variables of the study. This study used the participant observation technique, by way of qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Conclusions and generalizations then followed. After having all the data processed, an output was made: the proposed model on learned behaviors.
FINDINGS
The researchers state the following findings:
- Parenting style received by the subject from the homosexual father. The three respondents have more or less received the same kind of reinforcement from their father. They were told to behave appropriately according to their gender preference.
- Social and Emotional functioning of the child. The researchers observed that the respondents considered their father as a friend whom they can share their concerns about school and even the most personal matters. Because of this the subjects’ self-esteem was not affected by their situation. The respondents were able to make friends at school and in the neighborhood.
- Factors that affect the sexual development of the subject. In the context of sexual identity or preference and the gender role of the respondents, the researchers have noted that both female respondents, the researchers have noted that both female respondents have a typical preference for a romantic partner, which the opposite sex and they claimed to be comfortable about it.
PROPOSED MODEL ON LEARNED BEHAVIOR
The proposed model of this study is mainly taken from the theory of Albert Bandura’s Theory of Social Cognitive Learning. It emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others.
Model’s Behavior – In this model the researchers specifically determined the parent as their behavior model. From the days of Freud, the foundation of psychological work has been based on the theory that parents are a major influence on children and that they significantly contribute to the psychological characteristics that children acquire as adults (Sharma, 1996).
Child’s Behavior – Observation also includes paying attention. Paying attention would closely relate to the attachment of the child to his parent in a way that children who are close with their parent will most likely adopt their behavior rather than those children who are distant with their parents.
Imitation – This act of imitation will most likely happen if the seen action was followed by reinforcement. Children to some extent do the imitation from their parent’s behavior.
Parent’s Reward and Punishment Style – The parents, being the child’s immediate supervisor and regulator of their child’s behavior, are the ones who have the full force of giving reward and punishment to their child.
Accepted Behavior and Rejected Behavior – From the parenting style the child receives from his parents, a child can perceive for himself what behavior is more likely pleasing to their parents. Accepted behaviors of a child are those behaviors that they have observed and learned from their parents and that are being followed by reward or praises. On the other hand, the rejected behaviors are those behaviors, which, after being observed and imitated, are followed with unapproved response from the child’s parents.
Proposed Model on Learned Behavior
CONCLUSIONS
After thorough observation and assessment, the researchers concluded that there are many factors that influenced the child as he grew up. These factors are being possessed by the father being the child’s role model.
The child’s future self relied in his father’s hands. The parenting style given and the morality assessment instilled to the child’s mind by the gay father were carried through by the child in his social and emotional functioning in his environment. This personality molded by the father to his child will still be the same personality the child will posses. As the child’s model, parents have the biggest force as to what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable to his environment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of the study, the following are recommended:
- That the children of gay fathers continually retain their self-esteem and not be ashamed on their situation.
- That the gay fathers be a good and responsible parent to their children and believe in their own capacity of handling a very vital responsibility.
Further Recommendations:
- The researchers wish to recommend to the future researchers a more comparative study between male and female children of gay fathers.
- The researchers recommend that future researchers try a different research methodology.
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