ABSTRACT
The first goal of the chapter is to summarize prominent theories used in the paternal neuroendocrinology literature to describe the pathways after men’s transition to parenthood that lead to variations in parenting and subsequent child development. The second goal is to review how different hormones (testosterone, cortisol, oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, and prolactin) are related to different facets of fathering (e.g., involvement in childcare, quality of interactions). We also identify patterns of strengths and weaknesses in the literature to suggest how future studies can develop a more integrated understanding of paternal neuroendocrinology in conjunction with methodological considerations (e.g., baseline levels, hormone reactivity).
