Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

"Dad Deprivation" and the Importance of Fathers (with Anthony Bradley)

Sep 16, 2025

Anthony Bradley, a distinguished research fellow at the Acton Institute and professor at Kuyper College, tackles the pressing issue of 'dad deprivation.' He explores how the absence of fathers impacts children's mental health and behavior. The conversation covers the rising number of single-parent families, the influence of the Industrial Revolution on family roles, and the unique challenges faced in African-American communities. Bradley emphasizes the vital role fathers play in promoting emotional intimacy and resilience through nurturing interactions.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Main Causes Of Dad Deprivation

Two main drivers of single-mother households are divorce and intentionally having children outside marriage.
No-fault divorce and rising single mothers-by-choice produced dramatic increases in father absence since the 1950s.

INSIGHT

Incarceration Is Not The Whole Story

Incarceration explains father absence in some communities but not overall Black family trends.
Bradley attributes much of the decline in marriage aspiration and employment stress as larger factors.

INSIGHT

Fathers Train Self-Control Through Play

Father absence correlates with impulsivity and poor delayed gratification, raising poverty and risky choices risks.
Fathers train impulse control through play and delayed rewards, shaping lifelong behavior.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

What accounts for the dramatic growth of kids living without their biological father in the home? What are some of the social impacts of what is called “dad deprivation?” What is the effect of dads on the mental health of kids? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Anthony Bradley, well known scholar and author, current distinguished research fellow at the Acton Institute and professor at Kuyper College.

Anthony Bradley serves as a distinguished research fellow at The Acton Institute and Research Professor of Interdisciplinary and Theological Studies at Kuyper College.
Dr. Bradley lectures at colleges, universities, business organizations, conferences, and churches throughout the U.S. and abroad. His writings on religious and cultural issues have been published in a variety of journals, including: the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Examiner, Al-Jazeera, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Detroit News, Christianity Today, and World Magazine.
Dr. Bradley is called upon by members of the broadcast media for comment on current issues and has appeared on C-SPAN, NPR, CNN/Headline News, and Fox News, among others.
His books include: Liberating Black Theology (2010), Black and Tired (2011), The Political Economy of Liberation (2012), Keep Your Head Up (2012), Aliens In The Promised Land (2013), John Rawls and Christian Social Engagement (2014), Black Scholars In White Space (2015), Something Seems Strange (2016), Ending Overcriminalization and Mass Incarceration (2018), Faith In Society (2019), Why Black Lives Matter (2020), and Heroic Fraternities (2023).

==========

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.

To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.