role of the father

Question 1

what are the AO1 points and there matching AO3 points for the role of the father

Answer 1

AO1- What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?
AO3 - Contradictory research: Field, MacCallum and Golombok
AO1- Explanation 1- biology
AO3 - Hardy, Li et al, Implications
AO1 - cultural norms + laws
Extra AO3

Question 2

expand on the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?

Answer 2

• Whereas mothers usually adopt a more caregiving and nurturing role, fathers tend to adopt the role of play-mate.
• Fathers are more likely than mothers to encourage physical activity, challenging situations and stimulate problem solving through placing cognitive demands on the child; all through play
• The lack of sensitivity from fathers may be seen as positive as it encourages resilience while the mother’s role is seen as nurturing and emotionally developing them in a more holistic way.
• Many psychologists believe infants form multiple and differing attachments with parents and other significant figures.

Question 3

what is the -ve AO3 point that matches with the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?

Answer 3

Contradictory research:
- Field (1978)
- MacCallum and Golombok (2004)

Question 4

expand on the -ve AO3 point: Field, that matches with the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?

Answer 4

• Field (1978) found that if the father was the main primary caregiver from birth then they took on more of a maternal role. They were seen to be more nurturing and caring than the traditional father role.
• This demonstrates that there is flexibility in the role of the father and how men can respond to the different needs of their children

Question 5

expand on the -ve AO3 point: MacCallum and Golombok, that matches with the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?

Answer 5

• MacCallum and Golombok (2004) found that children growing up in single-parent (or same-sex) families do not develop any differently from those who grow up in more ‘conventional’ families
• suggesting that the role of the father is not significant in attachment

Question 6

expand on the AO1 point: explanation 1 - biology

Answer 6

• One explanation for the Father taking a secondary role in children’s upbringing is linked to biology.
• Women’s hormones are better set up to aid in the attachment process than men’s. This is because of two hormones - oestrogen and oxytocin.
• The female hormone oestrogen is linked to emotional sensitivity. Men are naturally at a disadvantage, as their sex hormone, testosterone, does not aid in sensitivity- quite the opposite.
• Furthermore, oxytocin is flooded in new mothers during and after birth and is key in the attachment process. It is released on skin to skin contact- something breast-feeding mothers are doing continuously.
• These biological differences between men and women could account for the differing traditional roles of the mother and father.