role of the father Flashcards
(7 cards)
what is the traditional role of the father
to be the provider, go out to work and provide resources for the mother and child and take a minor role in child rearing.
how has the role of the father changed
they have taken a more active role in looking after kids, many fathers are much more involved with their kids, particularly in the west. some may even take the main role
can babies attach to the father
research has shown babies can attach to their fathers, however they are less likely to be the babies primary figures.
schaffer and emerson found at 7 months old babies form the primary attachment but only 3% was to the father.
however after 18 months the fathers seem to become secondary attachment figures because 75% of babies protested when they walked away
what is the no role view
according to hardy the father is incapable of providing tender care and love to the baby because they dont have the correct hormones. mothers have oestrogen allowing them to provide emotional care, designed to soothe and reassure the infant because of oestrogen which increases emotional responsiveness. males dont have this hormone but have aggression hormone testosterone instead
what is the play view
grossman et al conducted a longtudinal study where babies’ attachments were studied into their teens. they look at parents’ behaviour and quality of infants later attachments to others, and found that the quality of attachment to mothers but not fathers was related to attachments in adolescence. however quality of father’s play relates to quality of adolescent attachments, suggesting that fathers have a role that is more to do with play and stimulation and less to do with emotional development
what is the primary caregiver view
evidence suggests when fathers take on the role of primary caregiver they are able to adopt the emotional role more typically associated with mothers. research indicates men can have sensitive responsiveness and can meet emtional cares and needs of child like mothers do
primary caregiver - researcher
field - filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interactions with primary caregiver mothers/fathers and secondary caregiver fathers. primary caregiver fathers like mothers spent more time smiling imitating and holding babies than secondary caregiver fathers. therefore this suggests fathers can provide resposnsiveness required for a close emotional attachment, but only express as primary caregiver
