Paternal Investment Theory

Paternal Investment Theory suggests that fathers' involvement in raising their children is influenced by how much they can increase their own reproductive success. If a father’s support significantly improves the survival and future prospects of his offspring, he is more likely to invest time, resources, and care. Conversely, if the child is less likely to be genetically related or if his efforts won’t boost his reproductive success, he may invest less. This theory helps explain variations in paternal behavior across different species and human cultures based on factors like certainty of paternity and potential benefits to offspring survival.