"Professor Sir Michael qualified the original theory of 'maternal deprivation' which had been developed by John Bowlby and expressed for popular consumption in a book
called 'Child Care and the Growth of Love'. That theory was that children were damaged by separation from their mother or mother figure. Sir Michael pointed out that children were not invariably so damaged and that, in any event, other people, including their fathers, are also very important to children". (Lady Justice Hale, the first female Law Lord, Court of Appeal, 8th.June, 2000).
We the undersigned believe there should be more balance and objectivity in child development research. Many studies of child development are predicated on the assumption that the mother is naturally the best parent to look after small children when in reality both parents are equally important to children.
The organisation ‘Research in Practice’ is one of the largest childcare research implementation projects in the UK which claims to'support evidence-informed practice with children and families'. Yet when asked to include an authoritative research article on the role of the father, by two independent and highly respected experts on children's welfare from the UK and USA, the Director of ‘Research in Practice’, declined.
The article states that ‘researchers initially focused exclusively on infant-mother attachment, and that literature is best known in the mental health community’. As a consequence ‘the most common practice in custody and access decisions has been to emphasize and preserve continuity in the infant-mother relationship, with children living with their mothers and having limited contact with their fathers.
Instead of concentrating on infant-mother attachment we the undersigned believe that child development researchers should also promote research on the importance of fathers to children.
Therefore we respectfully request that in accordance with your own complaints procedure the Company Secretary ask the Director of ‘Research in Practice’ to reconsider her decision and agree to cite the following article on your website and in your publications and to also undertake a review of the article as soon as possible.
‘Using Child Development Research to Make Appropriate Custody and Access Decisions for Young Children’. Family and Conciliation Courts Review; Los Angeles; Jul 2000; Joan B Kelly; Michael E Lamb; Volume: 38 Issue: 3 : 297-311, Sage Publications. ISSN:10475699
