Role of the Father

Question 1

Role of the Father Evaluation

Answer 1

Fields of controlled grocers play with hormones

Question 2

Field procedure

Answer 2

filmed 4mo old babies’ face-to-face interactions with p. mother, p. father and s. father

Question 3

Field findings

Answer 3

1. p. fathers spent more time smiling @, imitating and holding babies than s. fathers

Question 4

Field conclusion

Answer 4

fathers, if p. caregiver, can be emotion-focused primary attachment figures the same as mothers can, suggesting attachment is due to responsiveness not gender

Question 5

Grossman et al. aim

Answer 5

observe parents’ behaviour and its relationship to the quality of baby’s later attachments with other people

Question 6

Grossman et al. findings and conclusion (mother)

Answer 6

quality of baby and mother attachment related to relationship behaviour in adolescence
suggests attachment to mother more important than to father

Question 7

Grossman et al. findings and conclusions (father)

Answer 7

found quality of fathers’ play with babies related to quality of adolescent attachments
suggests fathers have different role to mothers –> play and stimulation not emotional development

Question 8

how do biological sex differences support the idea of fathers being s. attachment figures?

Answer 8

the female hormone oestrogen is linked to caring behavior and so may explain increased sensitivity of mothers of fathers, making them better suited to caring for the child