Attachment: role of the father

Question 1

What was grossmans theory?

Answer 1

Fathers role is different to a mothers role
-they act as a stimulating playmate

Question 2

What’s the percentage of cases where father is the primary attachment?

Answer 2

3%

Question 3

What was the sample of grossmans study?

Answer 3

-longitudinal
-44 families
-followed from infancy to 16 years old

Question 4

What was the procedure of grossmans study?

Answer 4

-observed and compared mother and fathers contribution to child’s attachment experiences

Question 5

What was a strength to grossmans study?

Answer 5

economic implications - fathers may want to stay at home with the baby and allows mother to carry on back to work

Question 6

What were the negatives of grossmans study?

Answer 6

-research shows children without fathers are no different to their peers (suggests secondary attachments may be unimportant)
-shaffer and Emerson found that gender and learning were unimportant in forming attachment but sensitive responsiveness was most important.