🟢 Attachment: The role of the father Flashcards
What is the father in attachment
Outline evidence suggestive that fathers are less likely to become babies’ primary attachment figure compared to mothers
- Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
⁃ Found majority of babies first became attached to mothers at around 7 months
⁃ In only 3% of cases father was the first sole primary attachment figure
⁃ In 27% of cases the father was the joint primary attachment caregiver with the mother
Outline study that found most babies formed an attachment to fathers at 18 months
- 75% of the babies Schaffer and Emerson studies formed attachments with their father by 18 months
⁃ This was determined by babies protesting when their fathers walked away (which is a sign of attachment)
Outline a specific study showing that fathers have a distinctive role from mothers in a child’s developemt
- Grossmann et al (2002)
- Conducted a longitudinal study where babies attachment was studied ‘til adolescence
⁃ Looked at both parents’ behaviour and its link to the quality of baby’s later attachments - Quality of baby’s attachment w/ mothers was related to attachment in adolescence but quality of fathers attachment wasn’t
⁃ Suggests attachment to fathers is less important
⁃ HOWEVER Grossmann et al found quality of fathers’ play was related to teen attachment, suggesting fathers have a role different from mothers more to do with play and stimulation and less with emotional development
What role do fathers have in a child’s development
They have a role more centred around play and stimulation
Outline a study showing that fathers as primary attachment figures can adopt the emotional role associated with mothers
- Field (1978) filmed fact to face interactions btween 4-month old babies with
⁃ Primary caregiver mothers
⁃ Secondary caregiver fathers
⁃ Primary caregiver fathers - Found that primary caregiver mothers and fathers spend more time smiling imitating and holding the babies than the secondary caregiver fathers
⁃ Shows fathers have the potential to be emotion focused PAF
⁃ They can provide the responsiveness for emotional attachment but may only express this when given the role of primary caregiver
Attachment to fathers
(Do babies attach to fathers and if so when)
- Most babies attach to their father
⁃ 75% attach by 18 months - Rarely are the fathers first attachment
⁃ 3% are sole first attachment (Schaffer and Emerson)
⁃ 27% are joint first attachment (Schaffer and Emerson)
What study supports the theory that fathers have a distinctive role in a child’s development
Grossmann et al. (2002)
Name the subheadings for ‘The role of the father’
Attachment to fathers
Distinctive role for fathers
Fathers as primary caregivers
