Role of the Father

Question 1

by 18 months what % of infants had formed an attachment (shaffer)

Answer 1

75% of infants

Question 2

what did Field say could happen in single father families ?

Answer 2

• a father could be the main primary attachment figure
• fathers adopt more ‘maternal’ behaviours ( smiling, immating, holding infants)

Question 3

what are the reasons fathers are secondary attachment figures

Answer 3

• not equibbed both socially and emotinally to be the primary figure
• lack ‘sensitive responsiveness’

Question 4

why do social factors result in fathers being secondary figures ?

Answer 4

• traditional gender roles in society mean that males adopt a secondary role
• child rearing is sterotypically a female role, deterring males from taking on this role

Question 5

why do biological factors result in fathers being secondary figures

Answer 5

male have very low levels of hormones such as oestrogen and oxytocin that biologically predispose use to be more nurturing and caring in atttachment formation

Question 6

strength: supporting

Answer 6

I: supprting evidence for the role of the father as a secondary attachment figure
E: a fathers interactions were more exciting compared to mothers. however the mothers were more affectionate and nurturing
C: shows that the fathers role is that of a play mate and not as a sensitve parent who responds to the needs of thier children

Question 7

strength: importance

Answer 7

I: evidence showing the importance of the role of the father
E: 2 year olds perfmoed better on cognitve tests invloving attention, problems solving, language and social skills if thier fathers were engaged in their iteractions from 3 mnths
C: shows that fathers play a vital role in the development of thier children’s development and cognitve skills in particular

Question 8

weakness: not equipped

Answer 8

I: evidence to show that fathers are not as equipped to provide a senstive and nurturing attachment
E: fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress compared to mothers ( Hrdy)
C: appears to support biological explanations that males lack oestrogen and oxytocin hormones, meaning that they’re not equpped innatley to form close attachments with their children

Question 9

strength: gender differences

Answer 9

I: evidence that contradicts gender differences in sensitve responsivness
E: there were no differences in the psychological responses of men and women who were shown videos of infants crying ( frodi et al)
C: suggests that fathers may have just as much sensitve responsivness as mothers