Role Of The Father

Question 1

Who argued that fathers could fill a role resembling that of mothers?

Answer 1

Bowlby

Bowlby emphasized the importance of cultural differences in parenting roles.

Question 2

What type of play are fathers more likely to engage in according to the text?

Answer 2

Physical activity and play

Fathers are often seen as the child’s proposed play companion.

Question 3

In Grossman’s longitudinal study, what was the age range of children being observed?

Answer 3

6 to 10 years

The study involved 44 families over a 10-year period.

Question 4

How is the quality of a father’s play linked to children’s attachment in adolescence?

Answer 4

Quality of father’s play linked to quality of adolescent attachment

A nurturing approach by the father can impact the child’s attachment style.

Question 5

Fill in the blank: Bowlby highlighted ________ differences in parenting roles.

Answer 5

[cultural]

This refers to the variations in how different cultures approach parenting.

Question 6

What is one limitation mentioned regarding the study of children’s attachment development?

Answer 6

Does not explain why children without fathers develop disorders

This raises questions about the impact of diverse family structures.

Question 7

Hrdy- supports idea father should not be primary caregiver

Answer 7

Found fathers less able to detect low levels of infant distress in comparison to mothers.
Supports biological explanation that mens lack of oestrogen means they are not equipped (biologically) to form close attachments with their children.

Question 8

Grossman

Answer 8

Conducted a longitudinal study on the long-term impact of fathers on children’s development.
Found that the fathers role is more to do with play and stimulation rather than nurturing.
Not the sensitive parent to respond to the childs need

Question 9

Role of the father (AO1)

Answer 9

Different to mother in that they are associated with play and stimulation rather than nurturing.

Question 10

AO1 Field (Can perform same role)

Answer 10

Filmed 4 month old babies interacting with primary caregiver mothers, PC fathers and secondary caregiver fathers.
Found PC fathers behaved similarly to PC mothers- spend time smiling, imitating and holding their babies.
Suggests fathers are capable of being sensitive and nurturing caregivers and levels of attachment are based on the level of responsiveness than the gender of the parent.

Question 11

OE- father can be nurturing, does not explain why children who grow up without a father develop no differently

Answer 11

MacCallum and Golombok found that children growing up in single-parent or same-sex parent families did not develop any differently to those from two-parent heterosexual families.
Suggests the role of the father is not essential for healthy emotional and social development as children can develop normally without a father figure.

Question 12

Lamb (support father can be PCG)

Answer 12

Found when fathers assume the role of the main caregiver, they quickly develop sensitivity to their children’s needs.
Suggests that the ability to provide sensitive and responsive care giving is not biologically limited to women.
Suggests levels of attachment are based on the level of responsiveness than the gender of the parent.