1. Introduction. - Cross-Cultural Anthropological Perspective. - Sociopsychological Perspective. - Cross-Species Comparisons. - A Preliminary Test of American Father Figures. - 2. The Adult MaleChild Bond. - Subject Selection?. - Where to Study Subjects?. - Method of Studying?. - Behavior to Be Coded?. - Theoretical Perspective. - Procedure. - Results. - 3. Parameters of the Man-Child Bond. - 4. A Test for the Hypothesized Adult Male-Child Bond. - Darwinian Theory in a Nutshell. - Divorce and Darwin's TheoryA Problem?. - Divorce and DarwinA Reconciliation. - Summary. - 5. The Plowman-Protector Complex. - Societal Variables: The Plowman-Protector Complex. - Results. - 6. The American Adult Male-Child Dyad. - The Professional Press. - The Popular Press. - Procedure. - Results. - The U. S. Sample. - Hypotheses to Test Putative Dereliction. - Results. - Discussion. - 7. The Myth of the Derelict Daddy. - Reconciliation of Symbol and Behavior. - 8. The American Family: A Tragedy of the Commons?. - Individual Liberty and Societal Viability. - Fathers as Coequal Caretakers. - Child-Care Facilities. - Societal Responses to the Tragedy. - 9. Conclusion. - Summary. - Conclusion. - References. Language: English