James Garbarino

Parental abandonment and neglect are a major reason why some boys become violent, asserts James Garbarino in the following viewpoint. He claims that these boys are less trusting and more likely to see violence as a natural response to problems. According to Garbarino, the absence of a father means a boy will lack a mentor who can steer him away from negative choices, while a boy without a mother will experience significant pain and rage. Garbarino is a psychologist and codirector of the Family Life Development Center at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the author, what are some of the reasons why mothers are unable to form a secure attachment with their newborns?
2. What is the first effect of living without a father...