A3. Role Of The Father

Question 1

Schafer And Emerson Findings

Answer 1

• 75% of infants formed a secondary attachment to father by 18 months (29% doing so within a month of forming primary attachment)
• However, Tiffany Field also suggested the father could become the primary attachment figure. Observed primary caregivers (male/female); found they were more attentive, and spent more time holding and smiling at the infant.

Question 2

• Eval: Debate over Father as Primary Attachment Figure

Answer 2

• MacCallum and Golombok: children growing up in homosexual or single parent families were no different to children with 2 heterosexual parents. Suggests exact role of the father is still disputed.

Question 3

• Eval: Social and Biological constraints

Answer 3

• women expected to be caring and sensitive; women also have higher oestrogen levels and less testosterone than men

Question 4

• Eval: Socially Sensitive Research

Answer 4

• later developmental abnormalities blamed on parents (e.g. intellectual disability or affectionless psychopathy)
• means that a single mother or father may feel pressured to return to work later in order to ensure their child forms a secure attachment