attachment - role of the father

Question 1

Grossman 2002
aim - AO1

Answer 1

• longitudinal study
• both parents behaviour and relationship
• to the quality of attachment into their teens

Question 2

Grossman 2002
findings and conclusions - AO1

Answer 2

gfindings 1
- quality of attachment with mothers not fathers was related to childs attachment in adolescence

conclusion
- suggets fathers attachment is less important

findings 2
- quality of fathers play was related to quality of adolescence attachment

conclusion
- role of father = play and stimulation
- less to do with nurturing
- still important in childs wellbeing

Question 3

Field (1978)
Aim - AO1

Answer 3

to investigate the role of the father

Question 4

Field (1978)
Method - AO1

Answer 4

controlled observation

Question 5

Field (1978)
Procedure - AO1

Answer 5

• filmed 4 month old babies having face to face interactions
• with primary caregiver mothers, primary caregiver fathers and secondary caregiver fathers

Question 6

Field (1978)
Findings - AO1

Answer 6

• primary caregiver fathers spent more time holding/smiling/imitating infant
• seems to be more important in order to build attachment

Question 7

Field (1978)
Conclusion - AO1

Answer 7

• fathers can be more nurturing and play maternal role
• depends on responsiveness not gender

Question 8

AO3 - strength
practical applications

Answer 8

P - research can be praised
- practical applications

E - principle of theory: attachment due to responsiveness not gender
- used to advise parents

E - e.g. who can take primary caregiver role
- mothers may feel more pressured due to stereotypes
- fathers pressured to work
- mothers may earn more economically

L - used to advise parents
- father can become primary caregiver
- reducing parental anxiety
- important part of applied psych

Question 9

Criticism - AO3
Macallum and Golombok

DISCUSSION

Answer 9

P - potential criticism
- Grossman found fathers have distinct role
- play and stimulation

E - however Macallum and Golombok (2004)
- found that children in single parent/lesbian families
- do not develop any differently to those raised in heterosexual families

E - suggets fathers do not have distinctive role

L - limiting Grossman’s research into role of father

DISCUSSION
- single-parent/lesbian families could simply adapt to accommodate fathers role
- father present = distinctive role
- father absent = can be adapted

Question 10

Weakness - AO3
other explanations

Answer 10

P - weakness of role of father

E - fathers tend to become secondary caregiver instead of primary caregiver
- due to traditional gender roles

E - mothers may be more nurturing
- due to hormones e.g. oestrogen
- biologically predisposed to be primary caregiver

L - suggests there are several explantions when investigating fathers role