Role of father (booklet 1)

Question 1

Traditionally research has focussed on mother infant attachment, what type of gender bias is this?

Answer 1

Alpha bias- assuming women can do something men can’t

Question 2

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) role of the father research evidence

Answer 2

Most babies attach to their mothers first (around 7 months)
Only 3% of cases the father was the PAF and 27% of cases the father was jointly the PAF with the mother
75% of babies formed a secondary attachment with the father by 18 months

Question 3

Lamb (1997)role of the father research evidence

Answer 3

Studies have shown little relationship between father accessibility and infant-father attachment
Could be possible men aren’t as psychologically equipped to form intense attachments
Do not possess the same emotional sensitivity

Question 4

Biological and cultural evidence for role of the father

Answer 4

Biological element- female hormone oestrogen regulates caring behaviour
Cultural expectations- influences gender behaviour, emotion and sensitivity stereotyped as feminine traits

Question 5

Field (1978)

Answer 5

Filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interactions with PCG mothers, PCG fathers and SCG fathers
PCG mothers and fathers spent more time smiling, imitating and holding infants than SCG fathers
Suggests key to attachment is level of responsiveness not gender
When fathers are main caregiver they adopt behaviours associated with mothers

Question 6

Grossman (2002)

Answer 6

Longitudinal study on both parents behaviour and its relationship to quality of children’s attachments into their teens
Quality of infant attachments with mothers was related to attachments in adolescence but not fathers
However quality of play with fathers was related to quality of adolescent attachment
Suggests fathers have a different role in attachment- play and stimulation rather than nurturing

Question 7

Evaluate the role of the father- confusion over research questions

Answer 7

Lack of clarity over question being asked
Some refer to the role of the father as secondary attachment figures, other as primary
Therefore some see fathers as having a distinct role, others say father can take on ‘maternal’ role
Creates confusion- difficult to offer a simple answer as it depends what role is being discussed

Question 8

Evaluate the role of the father- real world application

Answer 8

Can be used to offer advice to parents
Mothers may feel pressure to stay at home, fathers may feel pressured to stay at work
Research shows fathers are quite capable of being the PAF and single mothers and lesbian parents can be assured not having a father won’t affect child’s development
Parental anxiety can be reduced

Question 9

Evaluate the role of the father- conflicting evidence

Answer 9

Findings vary according to methodology used
Longitudinal studies suggest fathers have a separate distinct role
We would expect children in single mother and lesbian parent families to develop differently in some way
Studies consistently show this isnt the case leaving the question unanswered