Discerning the Local From the Pancultural: A Focus on Fathering and Childhood Development

Abstract Frameworks within cultural, cross-cultural, and indigenous psychology have all pointed to the need to discern the local and particular from the global in human functioning to develop better intersubjective understanding of research findings. Discontent stemming from generalizations about various aspects of psychological principles from studies conducted in the rich democracies to other regions of the world is palpable. At the same time, the C word, meaning Colonialism, in the psychological sciences has also received increasing attention. Psychology needs the rest of the world to make it a more viable science without drowning or the silencing of behavioural norms outside of the high-income countries. This chapter discusses similar and culture-specific patterns in different dimensions of fathering and childhood outcomes across cultural settings. Implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs and policies are discussed briefly.