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Prior literature has focused on studying low income or incarcerated fathers from a deficit perspective. For example, there is ample evidence showing that high risk behaviors are associated with children who have non-custodial fathers and about mothers' perspectives on father absence. However, there is still a lack of literature about how these fathers experience agency to take control and make change in their lives in spite of the barriers they face. I conduct a secondary analysis of life history interviews of 40 fathers in a work release program. The theoretical framework that guides this study is narrative inquiry, using sensitizing concepts from McAdams' (2001) four themes of agency: self mastery, status/victory, achievement/responsibility, and empowerment. Out of McAdams' four themes, self mastery and achievement/responsibility were the most prominent themes of agency. Additional emergent themes of agency are found in fathers' life history narratives.
Advisor: | Roy, Kevin |
Commitee: | Anderson, Elaine, Epstein, Norman |
School: | University of Maryland, College Park |
Department: | Family Studies |
School Location: | United States -- Maryland |
Source: | MAI 51/03M(E), Masters Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Public health, Counseling Psychology, Individual & family studies |
Keywords: | Agency, Efficacy, Father, Incarcerated, Narrative |
Publication Number: | 1529310 |
ISBN: | 978-1-267-71842-6 |