The Role Of The Father Flashcards
How can we use Schaffer and Emerson to talk about the role of the father?
Schaffer and Emerson has taught us that a baby can have multiple attachments
Babies are attached to the adult that is most responsive to their needs (who is saying that this has to be the mother?!)
Why do you think fathers are still less likely to be the primary caregiver?
Schaffer and Emerson found that fathers were far less likely to be the primary attachment figure because they spend far less time with the infant than the mothers.
Schaffer and Emerson- dad rarely the primary attachment figure- 65% of the time its mum. 29% joint with mum and dad.
Hormonal differences
Hormonal differences may mean men are not psychologically equipped to form an intense attachment because they lack emotional sensitivity. Oestrogen and oxytocin promote caring and empathy behaviours whereas testosterone promotes aggression.
Cultural expectations
There are cultural expectations that affect male behaviour, such as it being thought of as “feminine” to be sensitive towards the needs of others.
Important secondary attachment figures
Fathers are unlikely to be the primary attachment figure but they are important secondary attachment figures.
Fathers are more physically active, playful and provide more challenging situations which help develop problem solving skills.
The mother is more likely to be more conventional in their activities e.g. read a book together.
Are men biologically unequipped to provide emotional care?
Female hormones (oxytocin) promote caringness. Men are physiologically less responsive to babies cries
Mammals have evolved for women to take this role
Do social stereotypes prevent fathers from providing emotional care?
Eagly and Wood argued that gender role division is social not biological
Most men may be constrained by labels
Are fathers available to give this care?
Plenty of evidence in society that men can be primary attachment figure e.g. one-parent families, gay couples, and families where the mother earns more
Other kinds of attachment
Healthy emotional development depends on different attachments
Research shows that fathers are more exciting playmates and even that lack of sensitivity may foster problem-solving skills
AO3 - fathers can form secure attachments
P - Research suggests that fathers are able to form secure attachments with their children if they are in an intimate or close marriage.
E - Belsky et al. (2009) found that males who reported higher levels of marital intimacy also displayed a secure father–infant attachment, whereas males with lower levels of marital intimacy displayed insecure father–infant attachments.
E - This suggests that males can form secure attachments with their children; however, the strength of the attachment depends on the father and mother relationship.
L - Therefore, while fathers may be biologically determined to form a different relationship with their children, this relationship is mediated by their environment (the intimacy of their marriage) suggesting that while a father’s role may be determined, it is only determined to an extent and therefore a softer view of determinism is more appropriate.
AO3 - role of a playmate
P - There is research evidence that provides support for the role of the father as a ‘playmate’.
E - Research by Geiger (1996) found that fathers’ play interactions were more exciting in comparison to mothers’. However, the mothers’ play interactions were more affectionate and nurturing.
E - This suggests that the role of the father is, in fact, as a playmate and not as a sensitive parent who responds to the needs of their children.
L - These results also confirm that the mother takes on more of a nurturing role and shows there may be biological explanations between the genders of the role they take with their children.
AO3 - biological differences : research evidence
P - Evidence also suggests that fathers do not provide a sensitive and nurturing attachment.
E - Hrdy (1999) found that fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress, in comparison to mothers. These results appear to support the biological explanations; the lack of oestrogen in men means that fathers are not biologically equipped to form close attachments with their children.
E - This suggests that the role of the father is, to some extent, biologically determined and that a father’s role is restricted because of their biological makeup.
L - This provides further evidence that fathers are not able to provide a sensitive and nurturing type of attachment, as they are unable to detect stress in their children and are therefore less likely to the primary caregiver.
The impact on society
The number of stay-at-home dads has increased x4 in last 25 years. There are now 10 times as many stay-at-home dads in the UK than a decade ago, with one in seven fathers (14%) now the main childcare provider. Research says about 1.4 million men are now the primary carer in their households.
Increasingly fathers remain at home and therefore contribute less to the economy consequently more mothers may return to work and contribute to the economy
Changing laws on paternity leave − government-funded so affects the economy; impact upon employers
Gender pay gap may be reduced if parental roles are regarded as more equal
Less money spend on childcare – less taxes received to the Government
