Michael Lamb

Michael E. Lamb is a professor and former Head of the then Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge, known for his influential work in developmental psychology, child and family policy, social welfare, and law. His work has focused on divorce, child custody, child maltreatment, child testimony, and the effects of childcare on children's social and emotional development. His work in family relationships has focused on the role of both mothers and fathers and the importance of their relationships with children. Lamb's expertise has influenced legal decisions addressing same-sex parenting, advocating for fostering and adoption by adults regardless of their marital status or sexual orientations. many about child adjustment, currently edits the APA journal Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, and serves on the editorial boards on several academic journals.

Education and career Michael E. Lamb was born and grew up in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). This has included traditional and non-traditional families, single fathers, families in economic struggle, and those at risk regarding domestic violence. Lamb is editor of the book, The Role of the Father in Child Development, now in its fifth edition.

Fostering and adoption Lamb has served as an expert witness in court cases challenging prohibitions against fostering or adoption of children by individuals with same-sex sexual orientations. Lamb's testimony about the importance of parent-child relationships, regardless of family structure, played a crucial role in U.S. litigation on same-sex marriage, including cases considered by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2014. Lamb stressed that childhood adjustment relied more on the relationships between the parents and the relationships the child has with their parents.

According to trial court in Howard v. Arkansas case in 2004, of the eight expert witnesses testifying at trial, "he most outstanding of the expert witnesses was Dr. Michael Lamb." The trial court explained: "Without a single note to refer to and without any hint of animus or bias, for or against any of the parties, Dr. Lamb succinctly provided full and complete responses to every single question put to him by all counsel and was very frank in responding to inquiries from the court. Of all of the trials in which the court has participated, whether as a member of the bench or of the bar, Dr. Lamb may have been the best example of what an expert witness is supposed to do in a trial, simply provide data to the trier of fact so that the trier of fact can make an informed, impartial decision."

Non-traditional family structures Lamb has undertaken significant research on non-traditional families, including same-sex parents. His work has greatly influenced legal decisions addressing same-sex parenting in various US states. This research highlighted the importance of childcare quality and the role it plays in shaping children's well-being, regardless of family structure. The research helped shape practices in childcare settings, both at home and in institutions. This research was distinguished by the reliance on data and reports from a variety of sources, including the parents, professionals, and the children themselves.

Children's testimony During the early 1980s, a series of notorious cases involving allegations of child abuse in childcare settings raised questions about the accuracy and reliability of children’s accounts of abuse. Lamb’s research involved close collaboration with professionals responsible for conducting investigative interviews of alleged abused children in Israel. This stimulated the development of a protocol which would aim to improve the reliability of child witness capabilities, especially in cases of sexual and physical abuse. Lamb and colleagues developed the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Investigative Interview Protocol. This research-based tool aimed to guide forensic interviewers and improve the quality of child abuse investigations. The Protocol has since been adopted or embraced by investigative agencies in numerous countries, significantly enhancing the investigation of child abuse internationally. the Ned Holstein Shared Parenting Research Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Parents’ Association (2022), and an Award for Distinguished Contributions to 'advancement to the quality of forensic interviewing and improving the lives of children around the world' from the National Children's Advocacy Center (2023). He has also received honorary doctorates from the University of Gothenburg (1995), the University of East Anglia (2006), Abertay University (2015), and Montreal University (2019).