Lesson 3: Multiple attachments and the role of the father Flashcards
According to Schaffer and Emerson, who was the PRIMARY attachment figure for majority of infants?
The mother
At what age do infants form SECONDARY attachments to other family members (including FATHERS)
7 months
According to the study conducted by Schaffer+ Emerson, what PERCENTAGE of infants had formed an attachment with their father at 18 months?
75%
(Role of the Father)
Why are fathers LESS likely to be their child’s primary attachment figure?
1) They spend LESS time with their infants
2) possible that men are not as PSYCHOLOGICALLY equipped to form-> INTENSE attachment because they lack EMOTIONAL SENSITIVITY that women have
According to BIOLOGICAL factors why are fathers less likely to be their child’s primary attachment figure?
the female hormone OXYTOCIN underlies CARING BEHAVIOUR so women are more orientated to interpersonal goals than men.
According to SOCIETAL factors why are fathers LESS likely to be their child’s primary attachment figure?
->In some cultures there is also the STEREOTYPE that it is “feminine” to be sensitive to the needs of others
This lack of sensitivity may make fathers LESS prone to looking after their infants
What do researchers believe about the role of the father
father delivers a QUALITATIVELY different role from the mother
fathers provide PLAY + STIMULATION which compliment the role of the mother which is to provide EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of the role of the father
(Hint: inconsistent research + no effects)
There is INCONSISTENCY in research surrounding the IMPORTANCE of the role of the father.
Research investigating the effects of growing up in a SINGLE female or SAME-SEX parent family->NO EFEFCT on development + therefore suggests the role of the father is not important.
State another NEGATIVE evaluation of the role of the father
(Hint: Distinct role)
Research questions whether the FATHER plays a DISTINCT role.
Studies show that the father in a SINGLE PARENT family is more likely to adopt the TRADITIONAL MATERNAL role + be the infants’ PRIMARY CAREGIVER
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of the role of the father
(Hint: primary caregiver, game playing, vocalisations, comparable, flexibility)
1) FIELD (1978) conducted research which compared the behaviours of PRIMARY caregiver MOTHERS with PRIMARY + SECONDARY caregiver FATHERS.
2) Face-to-face interactions were analysed from VIDEO footage with infants at FOUR months of age.
3) It was observed that fathers engaged more in GAME PLAYING and held infants less.
4) However, PRIMARY caretaker fathers engaged in significantly more smiling + IMITATIVE vocalisations than secondary caregiver fathers.
5) The behaviour of primary caregiver fathers was COMPARABLE with that of mothers’ behaviour.
6) This demonstrates that there is FLEXIBILITY in the role of the father + how men can respond to the different NEEDS of their children.
