role of the father

Question 1

define father in terms of attachment

Answer 1

anyone who takes on the role of the main male care giver

Question 2

what % of babies in Schaffer and Emerson’s study formed a primary attachment to their father

Answer 2

3%

Question 3

in what % of cases in Schaffer and Emerson’s study was the father the joint primary attachment figure with the mother

Answer 3

27%

Question 4

in what % of cases did babies form an attachment with their father by 18 months

Answer 4

75%

Question 5

how did Schaffer and Emerson determine who babies formed attachments to in their study

Answer 5

when the father walked away the babies protested this was a sign of attachment

Question 6

in 2002 what type of study did Grossman et al carry out

Answer 6

a longitudinal study where babies attachments were studied until they were in their teens

Question 7

what were the findings of Grossman et al (2002) study

Answer 7

quality of babies attachment with mothers but not fathers was related to attachment in adolescence
this suggests attachment to fathers is less important than attachment to mothers

the quality of the fathers play with babies was related to the quality of adolescent attachments. This suggests fathers have a different role than mothers

Question 8

explain fathers as primary attachment figures

Answer 8

a baby’s relationship with their primary attachment figure forms the basis of all later close relationships

there is some evidence to suggest when fathers take on the role of primary care giver they are able to adopt the emotional role typically associated with mothers

Question 9

explain how field 1978 supports the role of fathers as primary care givers

Answer 9

filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interactions with:

• primary care giver mothers
• secondary care giver fathers
• primary care giver fathers

primary care giver father and mothers spent more time smiling, imitating, holding baby
{these features of reciprocity and interactional synchrony are part of the process of attachment formation}

in comparison to secondary care givers

so fathers have the potential to be the more emotionally focused primary attachment figure - can provide responsiveness needed for a close emotional attachment but may only express this when given the role of primary attachment figure