Attachment figures

Question 1

Who do babies normally form primary attachments with?

Answer 1

The mother (Schaffer & Emerson 1964)

Question 2

What are primary attachments?

Answer 2

This is the attachment made or formed between infant and the primary attachment figure

Question 3

What is a primary attachment figure?

Answer 3

The person who forms the closest bond with an infant, usually the biological mother but not always

Question 4

Who do babies normally form secondary attachments with?

Answer 4

The father - 75%

Question 5

Who are adolescent attachments most related to?

Answer 5

Mothers - Grossman 2002 - Study looking at parents behaviour and its affect on the quality of children’s attachments into their teens - father attachment was less important

Question 6

What role does the father’s play in relation to attachment?

Answer 6

The quality of the fathers play with infants and the stimulation influences the attachment

Question 7

Can fathers be primary caregivers?

Answer 7

Yes, and when they do they behave as a mother typically would (Field 1978)

Question 8

What is the key factor in determining the type and strength of attachment?

Answer 8

Level of response, not gender, is what matters

Question 9

What are the evaluation points for attachment figures?

Answer 9

Research into the role of the father is confusing because researchers investigate different questions (-)
Although fathers can be primary caregivers why they aren’t is generally unanswered (-)
The research is socially sensitive as it may influence mothers lifestyle decisions (-)