Role of the Father

Question 1

Role of the Father

Definition

Father

Answer 1

• Anyone who takes on the role of the main male caregiver.
• This is not necessarily - the biological father.

Question 2

Role of the Father

Attachment to Fathers

Answer 2

• Evidence suggests that fathers are much less likelty to become the babie’s first attachment figure.
• Schaffer and Emerson found that majority of babies first attach to their mother around 7 months.
• In only 3% of cases, the father was their first attachment figure.
• 27% of cases, the father was joint first with the mother.
• 75% of babies attach to theit father by 18 months (determined by separation anxiety)

Question 3

Role of the Father

Distinctive Role for Fathers

Answer 3

• Grossmann (2002) carried out a longitudinal study (from infant to teenager).
• Quality of a baby’s attachment with mothers was related to attachments in adolescents.
• Quality of fathers’ play with babies was related to the quality of adolescent attachments.
• Suggests fathers have a different role (play and stimulation) to mothers that is equally important.

Question 4

Fathers as Primary Attachment Figures

Description

Answer 4

• A baby’s relationship with their primary attachmenrt figure forms the basis of all later emotional relationships.
• Fathers that take on the role if primary caregiver are able to adopt the emotional role typically associated with mothers.

Question 5

Fathers as Primary Attachment Figures

Field (1978)

Answer 5

• Filmed 4-month-old babies in face-to-face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers.
• PC fathers, like PC mothers, spent more time smiling, imitating and holding hands than SC fathers.
• This is related to interactional synchrony.
• Fathers have the potential to be more emotion-focused primary attachment figures.
• Perhaps only express this when given the role of PC.

Question 6

Role of the Father: Evaluation

Confusion Over Research Questions

Limitation

Answer 6

• There is a lack of clarity over the question being asked.
• Some researchers attempting to answer “what is the role of the father?” may want to understand it as secondary attachment figures.
• Others may be more concerned with their role as primary attachment figures.
• The former tended to see a distinctive role between the mother and father.
• The latter have found fathers take on a ‘maternal’ role.

This makes it difficult to offer a simple answer to the ‘role of the father’; it depends on what specific role is being discussed.

Question 7

Role of the Father: Evaluation

Conflicting Evidence

Limitation

Answer 7

• Findings in research into the role of father vary according to the methodology used.
• Longitudinal studies such as that of Grossmann have suggested that fathers as secondary attachment figures have an important role in their children’s development.