role of the father

Question 1

AO1

Answer 1

Rutter proposed that all attachments are of equal importance and they all combine to form a child’s internal working model. Different people are important for different functions, e.g. the mother is the more sensitive caregiver and provides care and nurture to the child, whereas the father has a more physical role and acts as a playmate to the child.
Due to this, infants tend to prefer contact with their fathers when they are feeling happy or playful.
Although fathers have typically been seen as occupying a less important role than the mother, societal changes mean men are expected to play a bigger role in parenting than before. It is increasingly common for men to be the infant’s primary caregiver instead of just a playmate.

Question 2

AO3 - children growing up in same sex/ single families didn’t develop differently

Answer 2

There is evidence that undermines the idea of fathers having distinct roles. A study found that children growing up in single or same-sex families didn’t develop differently from those children in 2-parent families. Therefore, the father, and an attachment to a father figure does not have a vital role in the upbringing of a child.
However, this could be because the single-parent and same-sex families simply adapted to accommodate the role played by fathers. So, the children did not miss out on a father figure, so grew normally.

Question 3

AO3 - real world application

Answer 3

Research into the role of the father has real world application. It can reassure parents that fathers can be effective primary caregivers if the mother wants to work, and so this prevents the stereotype of each sex being suited to one role only. Mothers will feel less anxious and pressured about returning to work and this will have positive implications for the economy.
Additionally, fathers can be assured that they can effectively play the role of primary caregiver if they wish to do so. Therefore research into role of father has important implications for society as a whole.

Question 4

AO3 - fathers can take on role of primary caregiver

Answer 4

There is evidence to suggest that when fathers do take on the role of primary caregiver, they are able to adopt the emotional role more typically associated with mothers. They can provide the responsiveness required for a close emotional attachment.
Field filmed reactions of infants to fathers and found that the primary caregiver fathers spent more time interacting, smiling, imitating and holding infants - similar to mothers.