attachment figures

Question 1

explain schaffer and emersons findings about parent-infant attachment.

Answer 1

found majority of babies had become attatched to their mother first (by around 7 months old) and then after formed secondary attachments to their fathers and other family members
- attachment with father around 18 months.

Question 2

the role of fathers

Answer 2

grossman carried out longnitudial study looking at parents behaviour and its relationship to the quality of attatchment when the children became teens
-found that quality of infant attachment in mothers ( but not fathers)was realted to childrens attachment in adolesences suggesting father was less important,

-quality of fathers play with infant realted to quality of adolescent attachment suggesting fathers have a different role inattachment9 less with nurturing and more with play and stimulation.

Question 3

explain the role of fathers as primary caregivers

Answer 3

when fathers become primary caregivers they tkae on many of the traits of mothers.
tiffany field filmed four month old babies in face to face interactions with primary care givers mother and fathers.
primary care giver fathers, like mothers spent more time smilling imitatinf and holding infant than secondary caregiver fathers.( this behaviour is key when forming attachment with infant.). key to attachment is the level of responsiveness not gender of parent

Question 4

evalution on role of father

Answer 4

inconsisten findings, some evidence suggests fathers have different role to mother,e.g to be stimulating play mate. some suggest fathers can take on maternal role.