A - the role of the father (AO3)

Question 1

What’s a limitation of the role of the father? - Quality of father’s attachment is mediated by their romantic relationship

Answer 1

===> Belsky et al (2009) males with higher level of marital intimacy also secure fathers, lower levels were insecure. Fathers only able to form secure infant attachment if their marriage is so too. However, may also be true for mother’s (due to Bowlby’s IWM)

Question 2

What’s a strength of the argument that father’s have a distinct and separate role to mother’s? - Empirical research evidence

Answer 2

===> Hrdy (1999) fathers less able to detect low levels of infant stress - supports biological explanation. Highlights lack of emotional sensitivity different from mothers. However, Frodi et al (1978) videotapes of infants crying and found no difference in reaction of men and women

Question 3

What’s a strength of the father as a playmate argument? - Empirical evidence

Answer 3

===> Geiger (1996) father’s play interactions more exciting compared to affectionate mother play. Father can respond to needs of child too and also shows separate mother role - potentially hormonally-related

Question 4

What’s a limitation of the research into the role of the father? - Socially sensitive

Answer 4

===> Devalues role of father as playmate and unlikely to be primary caregiver due to hormones. Places more pressure on mothers to be emotionally available all the time. Findings should be disseminated with caution