Attachment Figures

Question 1

Attachment Figures
(Parent - Infant)

Answer 1

Traditionally mother-infant, other attachment figures like father may also be important

Question 2

Attachment Figures: Role of the Father
(Bowlby, Schaffer and Emerson, Grossman)

Answer 2

Bowlby = suggests fathers can fill a role closely resembling that filled by a mother

Schaffer and Emerson = fathers attachment equally important as mothers regardless of role

Grossman = study of 44 families found attachment to father didn’t affect later attachments - less important than mother

Question 3

Evaluation

Answer 3

Research Support (Play figure) = observed fathers engaged more in game playing - apart from primary caretaker fathers

Children without fathers aren’t any different

Biological Differences = fathers less able to affect low levels of infant distress - lack of oestrogen