Role of the Father

Question 1

In attachment what does father mean?

Answer 1

anyone who adopts the role of the main male caregiver - biological father or not

Question 2

What did Schaffer and Emerson present into the insight behind the role of the father?

Answer 2

Found majority of babies formed primary attachment to mother at around 7 months
In 3% of cases, father was sole primary attachment
In 29% of cases, father and mother joint primary attachment
75% formed attachment with father at 18 months- babies protested when father walked away
Implies father are less likely to become primary attachment compared to mothers

Question 3

What did Grossman et al explore in the role of the father?

Answer 3

understanding the relationship of the father in the child’s development rather than attachment

Question 4

How did Grossman et al investigate the role of the father in a child’s development?

Answer 4

Longitudinal study
Babies attachment studied until into teens
Looked at both parents behaviour and its relationship to quality of later attachments
Quality of baby’s attachment with mothers related to attachments in adolescence
WHEREAS
Quality of fathers PLAY with babies related to attachments in adolescence
Suggest father play significant role in stimulation and play rather than emotional development

Question 5

What did Field discover towards the role of the father in attachment?

Answer 5

R: ‘What is the role of the father?’- some attempt to answer question with father as secondary attachment, some concerned with father as primary attachment- some believe behaviour of mother different to father, some see fathers taking on maternal role- difficult to provide simple explanation of fathers role- lacks clarity
A:Conflicting evidence- findings vary dependent on methodology- Grossman longitudinal study have suggested fathers adopt role as secondary attachment and significance in child’s play and stimulation- McCallum and Golombok show children in do not develop differently in single-mother or lesbian-parent families- question as to whether fathers have distinctive role remains unanswered- damages validity and applicability HOWEVER perhaps single-mother and lesbian-parent adapt and accommodate role of father in play and stimulation for childs development- role of father continues to be prominent, families are adaptable to not having a father
I: Advice to parents- parents and prospective parents agonise over who should accept ‘primary caregiver role’- mothers may feel pressured to stay home and follow stereotypical role of mothers- equally, fathers may feel pressured to focus on work rather than parenting- some families, may not be economically viable- research into fathers role assures families fathers are capable of becoming primary attachment figure- parental anxiety can be reduced- delivers high ecological validity
S: Preconceptions about role of father- stereotypical accounts in advertising where fathers are not primary caregivers or are stricter- could cause potential observer bias- observers see what they expect based on stereotypes rather than objective reality- reduces validity
E:

Question 6

What does a primary attachment form?

Answer 6

basis of all later close emotional relationships