Role of the Father

Question 1

What are the key studies in role of the father?

Answer 1

• Schaffer and Emerson - father 2nd
• Grossman et al - playful
• Field - pcg fathers like mothers

Question 2

SCHAFFER AND EMERSON

Answer 2

• fathers secondary attachment
• most infants attached to mother first around 7 months then secondary weeks later
• 75% formed attachment to father at age 18 months
• determined by separation anxiety to father leaving

Question 3

GROSSMAN ET AL

Answer 3

• attachment with mother best predictor of attachment quality at later age
• mothers more nurturing, handled babies when distressed
• strength of attachment with father less crucial
• quality of father’s play important in attachment at age 16
• suggests different but important role (explorative play)

Question 4

FIELD

Answer 4

• filmed 4 month old babies with PCG mothers, PCG fathers and SCG fathers
• observed fathers less nurturing, more playful
• PCG fathers similar to mothers, more initiating and smiling than secondary fathers

Question 5

Evaluations for role of the father

Answer 5

• Real life applications for parents
• Children w/o fathers develop the same - Grossman, MacCallum and Golombok
• Biological predispostions or traditional roles

Question 6

EVAL: Real-life applications for parents

Answer 6

Real-life applications for parents

• mothers dont always have to stay at home as fathers can provide PCG role
• lesbian/single-mother families reassured not having a father may not affect a child’s development
• parental anxiety reduced, increases quality of life

Question 7

EVAL: Children without fathers develop the same

Answer 7

Children without fathers develop the same

• Grossman found that fathers as SCG had an important role
• However, MacCallum and Golombok found that children in single/same sex families do not develop differently from those in two-parent heterosexual families
• contradicting research, falsifying their hypotheses, reducing their validity

Question 8

EVAL: Biological predispositions or traditional roles

Answer 8

Biological predispositions or traditional roles

• may be because of traditional roles, women expected to be more caring
• or female hormones, oestrogen, create higher levels of nurturing
• further research need to fully explain role of the father