Multiple attachments and the role of the father Flashcards
What did Schaffer and Emerson’s research into multiple attachments find?
- Infants form multiple attachments around 10-11 months
- By 18 months old, only 13% of infants had a single attachment
- By 18 months old, 31% of infants had 5 or more attachments to grandparents, siblings, etc…
Who conducted research into sensitivity as evidence for the role of fathers in attachment and what was it?
Hrdy
Suggested that fathers are less able than mothers to detect low levels of infant distress, which suggests males are less suitable as primary caregivers. But, Lamb found that fathers who became the primary caregivers quickly develop more sensitivity to children’s needs, suggesting that sensitive responsiveness isn’t a biological ability limited to women.
Who conducted research into biological differences as evidence for the role of fathers in attachment and what was it?
Frodi et al
Found evidence to challenge the view that mothers have a greater physiological response to infant distress:
Showed videotapes of infants crying and found no differences in the physiological responses of men and women, suggesting that biological factors may not explain the gender differences in attachment relationships between parents and infants.
Who conducted research into different roles as evidence for the role of fathers in attachment and what was it?
Geiger
Showed that fathers’ play interactions are more exciting/ pleasurable than mothers, while mothers are more affectionate and nurturing. This supports the idea of fathers being playmates rather than caregivers, complementing the mothers role in the child’s development.
If the point is:
A strength of research into the role of the father is that there’s research to support the idea that fathers play a complementary role to mothers in parenting.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Geiger found that fathers’ play interactions are more exciting and pleasurable than mothers’, as mothers are more nurturing and affectionate.
Link- This finding supports the importance of the role of fathers because it suggests that fathers still play the important role of being playmates, complementing the mothers role in the child’s development.
If the point is:
A weakness of research into the role of the father is that the conclusions from the research are often socially sensitive.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- For example, the findings of Geiger’s research suggests that it’s important for children to have both a father and a mother figure in order to develop fully.
Explanation- Those with alternative family set ups may also find these conclusions unsatisfying, as it has been shown that children of single parents and same sex couples have no development issues.
Link- This implies that researchers must be careful when drawing conclusions from the research into the role of fathers and be careful not to overly generalise their findings, but to acknowledge when there are individual differences.
If the point is:
A strength of research into role of the father is that the findings can be seen to have useful practical applications in terms of recognising the importance of fathers in parenting and giving support to legal changes that allow them to be more present in their children’s lives.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- For example, up until recently, there was only maternity leave. But now, because of research into the role of the father, there is also paternity leave in the case that the father wants to be full time caregiver.
Link- This suggests that psychological research has potentially benefitted families.
If the point is:
A weakness of research into the role of the father is that it can be considered ethnocentric.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- This is because most of the research has taken place in individualistic cultures where stereotypical gender roles, in terms of parenting, may differ from the traditional roles in more collectivist cultures.
Link- This implies that findings like Geiger’s about the different roles of fathers and mothers may not be applicable to other cultures.
What are the evaluation points for the role of the father explanation?
+ Research to support the idea that fathers play a complementary role to mothers in parenting
— Conclusions from research are often socially sensitive
+ It can be seen to have useful practical applications in terms of recognising the importance of fathers in parenting and giving support to legal changes that allow them to be more present in their children’s lives
— Research into it can be considered ethnocentric
