attachment figures

Question 1

What did Schaffer and Emerson discover about primary attachment?

Answer 1

Majority become attached to mother first

Form secondary attachments within a few weeks or months

Question 2

When do infants attach to fathers?

Answer 2

75% attached to father by 18 months

Question 3

Who researched the role of the father?

Answer 3

Grossman

Question 4

Describe Grossman’s research

Answer 4

Longitudinal study
Looked at parents behaviour and quality of attachment
Quality of infant attachment with mothers was related to children’s attachment in teenhood
Father’s was not related
Suggests father attachment less important

Question 5

How do fathers affect their children’s adolescent attachments?

Answer 5

Quality of play with infants affects adolescent attachment

Suggests father role more to do with play and stimulation

Question 6

Who researched fathers and primary caregivers?

Answer 6

Field

Question 7

Describe Field’s research

Answer 7

Filmed 4 month babies in face to face interaction
With primary caregiver mother and fathers, secondary caregiver fathers
Primary fathers like mothers - more time smiling, imitating and holding infants

Question 8

Can fathers be primary caregivers?

Answer 8

Yes

Level of responsiveness matters not gender

Question 9

Evaluation - Inconsistent findings on fathers

Answer 9

Different researchers interested in different questions
Role of father vs primary caregiver
Distinct role vs same as mother
Cannot answer question of role of father

Question 10

Evaluation - if fathers have a distinct role why aren’t fatherless children different?

Answer 10

MacCallum and Golombok - children growing up without fathers do not develop differently
Fathers not important

Question 11

Evaluation - why don’t fathers generally become primary attachments?

Answer 11

Traditional gender roles
Women more caring
Female hormones create levels of nurturing
Women biological predisposed to be primary caregiver