Role of the father - AO1

Question 1

What were early theories of role of the father?

Answer 1

Focused on biological differences
Argued hormonal differences (estrogen and oxytocin) meant men were less able to be attachment figures and so should take on more of an economic role (Bowlby)
* Hardy (1999) found that fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress, in comaprison to mothers

However, more recent research has suggested that men have equally elevated levels of oxytocin when interacting with their babies
It is therefore more likely that societal norms shape differences in parental behaviour

Question 2

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find in role of the father

Answer 2

• 60 infants and their caregivers studied over 18 months
• 75% of infants had an attachment to the father by 18 months
• But just 3% had their father as their primary attachment figure

So fathers might just play a secondary role in attachment

Question 3

What did Grossman et al (2002) find out?

Answer 3

• Longitudinal study, 44 families, babies - 16 years old
• Looking at parents’ behaviour and its quality of the children’s attachment
• Quality of infant’s attachment with mothers (not fathers) was related to children’s attachment in adolesence
• However, the quality of father’s play with infants was related to the quality of later teen - attachments and later problem solving and cognitive skills
• Suggests fathers have a different role in attachment, to do with playing and stimulation (less to do with nurturing)

So fathers have a seperate secondary role

Question 4

What did Field (1978) do?

Answer 4

• Face to face interactions were analysed from video footage with infants at four months old
• Primary caregiver fathers engaged in significantly more interactions (smiling, vocalisations) than secondary caregiver fathers
• The key to attachment is level of responsiveness, not gender

So fathers have an equal role

Question 5

What are positive economic implications into research into attachment?

Answer 5

• More mothers may return to work and contribute to the economy
• Gender pay gaps may be reduced if parental roles are regarded as more equal

Question 6

What are negative economic implications into research into attachment?

Answer 6

• Increasingly, fathers remain at home so contribute less to the economy
• Changing laws on paternity leave - government funded so it affects the economy