Becoming a father: psychosocial challenges for Greek men

Abstract

The present study examines Greek men's transition to fatherhood and more particularly engagement with and disengagement from the family of origin at this critical stage of their life. To illustrate this process material is drawn from two diametrically different case studies in terms of breaking away from their family of origin. The one is not able to disengage from a domineering mother while the other tries in a self-reflective way to gain perspective, identify his own needs and come to terms with his parents. The study uses a qualitative methodology and is placed within the concern of psychosocial research with the interplay between “external” social and “internal” psychic formations.