Attachment - Role of the father

Question 1

Schaffer & Emerson’s study (regarding fathers)

Answer 1

• 3% fathers were first attachment
• 27% father was joint first attachment
  Follow-up 18 months later:
• 13% had formed single attachment
• 31% had formed 5+ attachments
• 1/3 infants had first attachment with father
• 75% formed an attachment with their father by age 18 months (determined by babies protesting when he walked away)

Question 2

Distinctive role fathers play in attachment

Answer 2

Playmate > Caregiver
- Geiger: more exciting
- Less sensible parents & more tough love

Question 3

Supporting research in distinctive role

Answer 3

Grossman et al -> longitudinal study -> quality of attachment being more/less important depending on age & lifestyle -> quality of fathers play was important for adolescent attachments

Question 4

Impact of lack of fatherly attachment

Answer 4

Do less well in school & have higher levels of risk-taking/aggression (fathers prevent negative developmental outcome) - Grossmann et al

Question 5

Factors which influence father-infant attachment: Degree of sensitivity

Answer 5

Lucassen et al - main caregiver fathers develop higher levels of sensitivity -> greater attachment security

Question 6

Factors which influence father-infant attachment: Supportive co-parent

Answer 6

Field - filmed 4 month old infants with caregiver -> attachments were related to level of responsiveness rather than gender (demonstrated interactional synchrony & reciprocity)

Question 7

Research against fathers as attachment figures

Answer 7

Hrdy - found fathers were less able to detect low level stress in infants -> less suitable

Question 8

Strength of role of the father

Answer 8

Useful (practical applications -> research offers reassuring advice to parents that want to go against stereotypical household & understanding same-sex parents won’t impact development of child -> reduces pressure)

Question 9

Limitations of role of the father

Answer 9

Doesn’t explain everything (MacCallum & Golombok found single & same-sex families do not develop differently -> research struggles to explain why they do not develop differently -> secondary attachment is not important)

Inconsistent findings (some interested in role of fathers as secondary attachment & some as primary caregivers -> former showed different behaviour & latter showed maternal role -> cannot answer simple question as they focus on different aspects)