Role of the Father Flashcards
Role of the Father
While traditionally the role of the father may have been limited, as fathers would go to work to provide resources whilst the mothers stayed home and took care of the children, in recent times the role of the father has significantly changed. However, psychologists disagree over the exact role of the father. Some researchers claim that men are simply not equipped to form an attachment. Such psychologists point to biological evidence which suggests that the hormone oestrogen underlies caring behaviour in women and the lack of oestrogen in men is why they are unable to form a close attachment. Other researchers argue that fathers do not take on a caregiver role and in fact provide a different role: as a playmate. Finally, some researchers argue that fathers can demonstrate sensitive responsiveness and respond to the needs of their children and therefore can form a strong emotional bond.
Role of the Father - Strength
There is research evidence that provides support for the role of the father as a ‘playmate’ rather than primary caregiver. Research by Geiger (1996) found that a fathers’ play interactions were more exciting in comparison to a mothers’. However, the mothers’ play interactions were more affectionate and nurturing. This suggests that the role of the father is in fact as a playmate and not as a sensitive parent who responds to the needs of their children. These results also confirm that the mother takes on a nurturing role.
Role of the Father - Strength
Research suggests that fathers can form secure attachments with their children, if they are in an intimate marriage. Belsky et al (2009) found that males who reported higher levels of marital intimacy also displayed a secure father-infant attachment, whereas males with lower levels of marital intimacy displayed insecure father-infant attachments. This suggests that males can form secure attachments with their children but the strength of the attachment depends on the father and mother relationship.
Role of the Father - Strength
Research evidence suggests that fathers are not as equipped as mothers to provide sensitive and nurturing attachment. Hrdy (1999) found that fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress, in comparison to mothers. These results appear to support the biological explanation that the lack of oestrogen in men means that fathers are not equipped innately to form close attachments with their children. This suggests that the role of the father is, to some extent, biologically determined and that a father’s role is restricted because of their makeup. This provides further evidence that fathers are not able to provide a sensitive and nurturing type of attachment, as they are unable to detect stress in their children.
Role of the Father - Weakness
MacCallum and Golombok (2004) found that children growing up in single-parent (or same-sex) families do not develop any differently from those who grow up in more ‘conventional’ families, suggesting that the role of the father is not significant in attachment.
