Role of the Father

Question 1

Roles of the father

Answer 1

Secondary attachment
Playmate
Primary caregiver

Question 2

Research supporting secondary attachment

Answer 2

Secondary attachment:
Schaffer and Emerson-
found majority attached to mothers first (about 7 months),Only 3% was father first attachment
75% formed secondary attachment to father by 18 months- shown through separation distress

Question 3

Research supporting playmate

Answer 3

Playmate-
Grossman
Longitudinal study
Quality of infant attachment with mothers, but not with father, related to children’s attachments in adolescence suggesting fathers role was less important

However quality of fathers play was related to quality of adolescent attachments, so their role is different to mothers, more centred around play and stimulation than nurturing
But still important

Question 4

Research supporting primary caregiver

Answer 4

Primary caregiver-
Field
Filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with:
-primary caregiver mothers
-primary caregiver fathers
-Secondary caregiver fathers
Found primary caregiver fathers spent more time smiling, imitation and holding (key to building attachments)
Shows fathers can be effective as primary caregiver

Suggests key to attachment was level of responsiveness not gender of parent

Question 5

Strength role of the father (useful)

Answer 5

Practical application
Use research to give advise to parents
For mothers who feel pressured to stay home because of stereotype/research
Can reassure parents that father can be attachment figure
Lack of mother won’t affect child’s development of attachment

However
Hardy suggests fathers less able to detect low level of infant distress suggesting males less suitable as primary

Question 6

Limitation (important?)

Answer 6

MacCallum and Golombok
Found children growing up in homosexual or single parent families didn’t differ to children of two heterosexual parents
If father is so crucial?

Question 7

Limitation (inconsistent)

Answer 7

Inconsistent findings on role of father
May be because researchers often research different questions
Some look at role as secondary attachment but others look at primary

Secondary find fathers behave differently from mother and have a distinct role (playmate etc)
However primary find fathers can take on maternal role

Means question of what is role of father? Cannot be answered as often studying different aspects of the question

Question 8

Factors affecting relationship between father and child

Answer 8

Degree of sensitivity- more secure attachment found if father shows sensitivity to needs

Type of attachment with own parents- generally single parent father has similar attachment with own children as had with parents

Marital intimacy- degree of intimacy father has within relationship with his partner affects type of attachment he will have with his children

Supportive co-parenting- amount of support father gives his partner in helping to care affect s type of attachment