Role of the father Flashcards
What is the role of the father in child rearing?
Some researchers argue that men are not equipped to form attachments, both psychologically and socially.
However, others argue that fathers can demonstrate sensitive responsiveness – where they respond to the needs of their children.
Other researchers argue that fathers are not ‘caregivers’ and that they provide a ‘playmate’ role.
How has the role of the father changed in the last 100 years?
Traditionally fathers have played a minor role in child rearing.
Historically, fathers would go to work and provide resources while mothers took care of the children.
However, society has changed significantly
Let’s unpack this statement further:
Some researchers argue that men are not equipped to form attachments, both psychologically and socially.
Question: Why might some researchers make this argument?
One side - The different hormones in men/women may play a role. Oestrogen underlies caring behaviour, which may make women biological more suited to forming attachments.
The other side - There are cultural/social expectations that view child rearing as stereotypically feminine. This may deter males taking on a childrearing role, even if they want to.
Do babies actually attach to their father and if so, when?
Available evidence seems to suggest that fathers are much less likely to become the babies first attachment figure compared to mothers.
Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that babies first became attached to their mother at around 7 months, in only 3% of cases the father was the first attachment figure.
What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find?
Found that the majority of babies did become attached to their mother first (around 7 months) and within a few weeks or months formed secondary attachments to other family members, including the father. In 75% of the infants studied an attachment was formed with the father by the age of 18 months. This was determined by the fact that the infants protested when their father walked away - a sign of attachment.
Do fathers make a unique contribution to early development? Playmate role?
Grossman et al. (2002) – carried out a longitudinal study where babies attachments were studied into their late teens. Quality of babies attachments with mothers, not fathers, was associated with attachments in adolescence. So, this may suggest attachments to fathers is less important.
However, they did find that the quality of the fathers play with babies was associated with the quality of attachment in adolescence. This suggest that the role of being a playmate is an important one for fathers to take on.
What did Grossman (2002) do and find?
carried out a longitudinal study looking at both parents’ behaviour and its relationship to the quality of children’s attachments into their teens. Quality of infant attachment with mothers but not fathers was related to children’s attachments in adolescence, suggesting that father attachment was less important.
However, the quality of fathers’ play with infants was related to the quality of adolescent attachments. This suggests that fathers have a different role in attachment - one that is more to do with play and stimulation, and less to do with nurturing.
Can fathers be the emotional primary attachment figure?
Field (1978) – filmed interactions between babies and their primary and secondary caregivers (whether it be mum or dad). They found fathers who were the primary attachment figure, spent time smiling, imitating and holding babies (part of reciprocity and interactional synchrony). This suggest fathers can take on the emotional role when needed if they are the primary attachment figure.
What did Field (1978) do and find?
filmed interactions between babies and their primary and secondary caregivers (whether it be mum or dad). They found fathers who were the primary attachment figure, spent time smiling, imitating and holding babies (part of reciprocity and interactional synchrony). This suggest fathers can take on the emotional role when needed if they are the primary attachment figure.
What are the strengths of the role of the father?
There is research evidence that provides support for the role of the father as a ‘playmate’. 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.
Biological evidence to suggest that male attachment may occur differently to that of mothers. During childbirth women release the hormone, Oxytocin (the love hormone) which facilitates the bonding process between her and her child. Men don’t, they also naturally have lower levels of this hormone than women. Also women have oestrogen which is linked to higher levels of nurturing. Therefore women are predisposed to be the primary attachment figure. This is a strength because it offers additional support for the role of the father and primary attachment figures.
What are the strengths of the role of the father?
Much of the research into the role of the father undervalues what the father offers the child. When this happens in research it is called Alpha Bias- where one gender is devalued whilst the other is enhanced; in this case the fathers’ are devalued. This is a limitation because research shows that when men can become the more nurturing attachment figure and smile/hold the baby more when they have to become that role model and children who grow up in single parent or same sex parent families do not develop differently.
Research may have important implications on the economy. Traditionally it’s often mothers who are made to feel pressured (and also expected) to stay at home because that what ‘research says’ should happen. This may NOT be the best solution economically for some families or society overall (e.g. if mother earns more than father but still gives up work = less income to family and less taxes for government). This therefore means research into the role of caregivers is socially sensitive. Therefore research showing fathers can be valid maternal figures may be a comfort for some families who would otherwise have faced hard choices of who was going to ‘give up’ work. This encourages more fathers to take the ‘primary’ caregiver role whilst the mother returns to her job.
