role of the father

Question 1

what is meant by the role of the father in attachment?

Answer 1

influence and contribution of fathers in a child’s attachment and development.

Question 2

What did Schaffer and Emerson find about the role of the father?

Answer 2

majority of infants formed primary attachment to mother first.
by 18 months, 75% formed attachment with father= secondary figure

Question 3

How does Grossman explain the father’s role in attachment?

Answer 3

conducted a longitudinal study- quality of infant attachment to father was less important in predicting later attachment security than with mother

Question 4

What did Field find about fathers as primary caregivers?

Answer 4

observed fathers who were primary caregivers and found they engaged in more sensitive and responsive interactions= fathers adopt nurturing role if they are primary figure

Question 5

how do biological factors influence role of the father?

Answer 5

Feeding: healthier start for infants- provides protection from illness
Hormonal differences: studies suggest oestrogen = caregiving behaviours, while fathers, who have lower levels, may focus more on stimulation and play rather than emotional bonding.

Question 6

weakness- how does research on the role of the father lack consistency?

Answer 6

Diff studies focus on diff aspects of the father’s role- some look at fathers as primary caregivers, others as playmates, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions about their attachment role. This inconsistency across research reduces reliability and weakens the overall understanding of paternal attachment.

Question 7

strength- why does research on the father’s role have real-world applications?

Answer 7

Understanding the importance of father-child attachment has encouraged policies that support paternal involvement= paternity leave and shared parental responsibilities in modern parenting. These changes support stronger bonds between father and children attachments nowadays

Question 8

strength- How does Grossman’s research support validity in studying the father’s role?

Answer 8

Research followed children into adolescence- found that fathers’ involvement in play and stimulation positively influenced later social competence. This supports the external validity of the findings, showing that early paternal interactions have lasting effects.

Question 9

weakness- How does research on fathers ignore individual differences?

Answer 9

Some fathers play a nurturing role, while others focus on play and stimulation.
temperament, family structure, and work-life balance affect how involved a father is= difficult to apply universal conclusions.