the role of the father

Question 1

who is the babies primary caregiver

Answer 1

S+E found that the majority of babies become attached to their mother at around 7 months

only 3% of the time the father is the primary caregiver

27% father is joint first subject of attachment w/ mother

Question 2

how many babies form secondary attachments w/ father

Answer 2

75% form an attachment by 18 months - indicated by babies protesting when the father walked away - a sign of attachment

Question 3

Grossmanns findings of the father

Answer 3

research found that quality of the fathers attachment was less important for adolescent attachment/development than the one with the mother
meaning fathers may be less influential in terms of emotional development

also found fathers quality of play with the baby related to the quality of adolescent attachment - showing they play a role in stimulation

Question 4

can fathers be primary caregivers

Answer 4

when fathers take on this role, they take on the qualities and behaviours of typical mothers
field (1978) found that fathers take on mother like behaviours such as smiling and interacting more than secondary caregiver fathers would.

Question 5

the most important factor is level of response - expand

Answer 5

having interactional synchrony with the babies such as smiling and holding is the most important factor when becoming a primary caregiver regardless of gender