Does a man change biologically and psychologically when he becomes a dad? How do dads form their bond with their children? Do dads contribute uniquely to child development? How and why is fatherhood different around the world? Is ‘dad’ only genetically defined?

Human fathers are a rare thing. We are one of only 5% of mammals who have investing fathers, and the only ape. So what is so important about fathers that caused evolution to select for them? In this talk Dr. Anna Machin takes us on a tour of the science and evolution of fatherhood. She will detail the hormonal and brain changes which help to prepare a man to be a father and explore the different roles that dads adopt around the world to ensure the survival of their children. Dads have a unique role to play in their child’s development and Anna will describe the very special bond that dads build with their children, which is crucially different to any bond they build with mum. But she will also question our narrow definition of dad in the western world and introduce the audience to a wonderful cast of characters, any of whom could be a child’s dad.

The majority of previous studies on human fatherhood is on the effect of the absence of fathers. Moreover, we mostly know about ‘motherhood’ and the assumption of a naturally instinctive bond between mothers and their children. Dr. Anna Machin uniquely points out the biological developments in a man’s body when he becomes a father.

Photo: Lawrence Jackson. CC BY The White House