L3 - the role of the father

Question 1

what did schaffer and emerson say about the role of the father

Answer 1

fathers provide play and stimulation to complement role of the mother
less likely to be primary attachment figure

Question 2

which 2 studies contradicted schaffer and emerson’s theory about the role of the father

Answer 2

grossman
field

Question 3

what did grossman do

Answer 3

longitudinal study
studied babies’ attachments until teens
found that quality of baby’s attachments but not fathers was related to attachments in adolescence
quality of fathers play was related to quality of adolescent attachments
so father has a different role to the mother

Question 4

what did field do

Answer 4

filmed 4 month old babies interactions
with primary caregiver mothers, fathers and secondary caregiver fathers
PC fathers spent more time smiling, imitating and holding babies that SC fathers
so fathers can adopt role of mother

Question 5

strength of the role of the father

Answer 5

real world application: offer advice to parents, reassurance that fathers can be as competent as mothers in fulfilling the role of the primary attachment figure

Question 6

weaknesses of the role of the father

Answer 6

• inconsistency in research, growing up in a single female or same-sex parent family show no effect on development so suggests role of father is not important
• questions whether father plays distinct role, in single parent family, father is more likely to adopt traditional maternal role