We know sufficiently.
Various levels of ATTACHMENT DISORDERed parenting
impact different genetic personality variables in a range of ways . . . for many children . . . most children . . . devastating ways to varying degrees of devastation.
That’s my fierce conviction. I have seen no research to counter that conviction. The more I see deepens that conviction.
Perhaps the good Doc will disagree. He’s certainly closer to the criminal justice system than I am or have been.
Here a common story from a prison setting, buts it’s common because of the amount of truth. Mother’s day is by far the 2nd busiest mail day in prison (2nd to Christmas). There is no noticeable bump on Father’s day.
Which is not to say every child raised without a mother will grow up to be a criminal. But fathers (or valued male father figures) seem to teach important lessons to children. I have coached middle school football and wrestling for a couple of years on my free time. You can always tell those kids with no father figure in their life. The just have a different view of the world. I’m not sure if I could put my finger on what exactly, entitilement? Seeing less of a need to work for what they want? Lack of limits? Something in that mix. I always try to fill that role with these kids but by that time it often too late.
hmm, not sure about only child one way or another.
Couple things off the top of my head, I would guess that the rate of absent fathers is higher with one child than multiple children. I also wonder if having a brother is more important than a sister. I seem to remember plenty of criminals with all women in their house (mom, grandmother, sisters, aunt, etc). I wonder if having a brother means more consequeces for infringing on anothers rights. In others words, you steal and you get punched (by a brother not a father) rather than lectured. Just speculating.