Role of a father

Question 1

term: what’s a father?

Answer 1

anyone who takes on the role of the main male caregiver, doesn’t have to be biological father

Question 2

statistics: attachment with fathers

Answer 2

• 3% of primary attachment figure is father
• 75% babies form attachment with father at 18months(M.A)

Question 3

what is the distinctive role of a father?

Answer 3

Where fathers hold a specific role in child’s development from the mothers

Question 4

role of a father: grossman 2002

Answer 4

Longitudinal study on how parent-infant attachment effected attachment into teens.
Found:
a) Quality of infant ATTACHMENT to mothers (not fathers) related to teens attachment
b) Quality of fathers PLAY did relate to attachment in adolescents.

Question 5

role of the father: lamb 1987

Answer 5

fathers who become main caregivers quickly develop more sensitivity to children’s needs- suggesting sensitive responsiveness isn’t biological ability limited to women
prefer to interact with father in positive emotional state wheras mothers when distressed

Question 6

role of a father: field 1978

Answer 6

Filmed 4-month old babies in face-to-face interactions with:
- Primary caregiver mums
- Secondary caregiver fathers
- Primary caregiver fathers
The P.C.F’s, like P.C.M’s, spent more time smiling, imitating and holding infants than S.C.F.
shows fathers as PAF has same role as mothers

Question 7

role of the father: hrdy 1999

Answer 7

fathers less able to detect low level distress in infants than mothers due to lack of oestrogen, suggesting less equipped

Question 8

role of the father limations (3)

Answer 8

• research into it is stereotypical (assume have opposite gender parents) . heteronormative
• conflicting evidence (grossman suggests have distinctive role)
• lack of clarity( complicated question)

3) different researchers investigating different research questions. some interested in understanding role of fathers as SAF and others at PAF. cant answer question

Question 9

role of the father strength

Answer 9

real world applications( worrying ab who take time off gives reassuring advice to parents so parental anxiety reduced)