Role of the father

Question 1

What is the role of the father?

Answer 1

While mothers usually adopt more caregiving/nurturing role, fathers adopt a more play-mate role than mothers
Most infants prefer contact with mother when in positive emotional state and wanting to play, but prefer mother when in distressed state

Question 2

What was Geiger (1996)?

Answer 2

Found that fathers had different role from mother, mother more about nurturing, father more about playing

Question 3

What was Grossman (2002)?

Answer 3

Longitudinal study at quality of parental relationships from infancy to teenage years
Found that early attachment to mother was better predictor of late relationships, father less important to later development
However, if engaged in active play with child when they were young, adolescent relationships with both parents is strengthened

Question 4

What was Field (1978)?

Answer 4

Field found that if father was primary caregiver from before 6 months, they took on more maternal role
This demonstrates that there is flexibility in the role of the father

Question 5

Consistency?

Answer 5

Different research states different factors about fatherhood as they are all looking for different things
Therefore, there’s a lack of consistency

Question 6

Practical applications?

Answer 6

If father can take role of mother as well, then this has implications for society, such as paternity/maternity leave, custody of children, more social acceptance of single father