Attachment : Role of the Father

Question 1

Whats the traditional role of the father?

Answer 1

Limited due to having to work to provide for the family while mothers nurtured and cared for children

Question 2

Schaffer + Emerson on multiple attachments

Answer 2

Found father is rarely primary attachment figure → 3%
Formed attachment with father by 18 months → 75%
Mother as primary → 65%
Joint primary → 27-30%
Father as primary → 3%

Question 3

What is the primary attachment?

Answer 3

The first attachment formed by an infant

Question 4

What causes a primary attachment?

Answer 4

Babies are attached to the adult most responsive to their needs - quality of interaction not quantity

Question 5

Biological reasons for fathers being less nurturing

Answer 5

Hormonal difference mean men aren’t biologically or psychologically equipped to form an intense attachment because they lack emotional sensitivity (oestrogen + oxytocin = caring an empathy, testosterone = aggression)

Question 6

Social reasons for fathers being less nurturing

Answer 6

Cultural expectations affect male behaviour → thought of as ‘feminine’ to be sensitive towards the needs of others

Question 7

What does research suggest a father’s role is?

Answer 7

Important secondary figure → act as a playmate. More physically active, playful and provide more challenging situations to develop problem solving skills. The mother is more likely to be more conventional in their activities - eg. Reading a book together.

Question 8

Supports the father as able to form attachments (Ao3 advs)

Answer 8

• supportive research that they can form secure attachments if they are in an intimate/ close marriage → Besky et al (2009) found males who reported higher levels of martial intimacy also displayed a secure father-infant attachment. This suggests that males can firm secure attachments with their children, however the strength of the relationship determines on father-mother attachment. Therefore while fathers may be biologically determined to form a different relationship with their children, their relationship is mediated by their environment
• no difference in meeting needs → Frodi et al (1978) showed videotapes of infants crying and found no difference in the physiological responses between men and women

Question 9

Doesnt support the father as able to form attachments (Ao3 advs)

Answer 9

• supportive evidence for the father as primarily a ’playmate’ → Geiger (1996) found fathers’ play interactions were more exciting in comparison to mothers’, who’s were more affectionate and nurturing. This suggests the father is less sensitive and confirms the mother’s nurturing role - supporting biological explanations between genders of the role they take with their children.
• supportive evidence that fathers dont provide a sensitive and nurturing attachment → Hardy (1999) found fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress in comparison to mothers. This supports the biological explanation as the lack of oestrogen in men means fathers aren’t emotionally equipped to form close attachments with their children. This suggests roles are to some extent biologically determined and a father’s role is limitless due to biology.

Question 10

How have men changed as the main childcare provider in recent years?

Answer 10

Stay at home dads have increased x4 in last 25 years
10x as many SAHDs in uk vs a decade ago - 1/7 (14%) of these. He g the main childcare provider
Approx 1.4 mill men are primary carer worldwide