role of the father Flashcards
1
Q
what are the AO1 points and there matching AO3 points for the role of the father
A
AO1- What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?
AO3 - Contradictory research: Field, MacCallum and Golombok
AO1- Explanation 1- biology
AO3 - Hardy, Li et al, Implications
AO1 - cultural norms + laws
Extra AO3
2
Q
expand on the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?
A
- Whereas mothers usually adopt a more caregiving and nurturing role, fathers tend to adopt the role of play-mate.
- Fathers are more likely than mothers to encourage physical activity, challenging situations and stimulate problem solving through placing cognitive demands on the child; all through play
- The lack of sensitivity from fathers may be seen as positive as it encourages resilience while the mother’s role is seen as nurturing and emotionally developing them in a more holistic way.
- Many psychologists believe infants form multiple and differing attachments with parents and other significant figures.
3
Q
what is the -ve AO3 point that matches with the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?
A
Contradictory research:
- Field (1978)
- MacCallum and Golombok (2004)
4
Q
expand on the -ve AO3 point: Field, that matches with the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?
A
- Field (1978) found that if the father was the main primary caregiver from birth then they took on more of a maternal role. They were seen to be more nurturing and caring than the traditional father role.
- This demonstrates that there is flexibility in the role of the father and how men can respond to the different needs of their children
5
Q
expand on the -ve AO3 point: MacCallum and Golombok, that matches with the AO1 point: What is the nature of the relationships between infants and fathers?
A
- 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
6
Q
expand on the AO1 point: explanation 1 - biology
A
- One explanation for the Father taking a secondary role in children’s upbringing is linked to biology.
- Women’s hormones are better set up to aid in the attachment process than men’s. This is because of two hormones - oestrogen and oxytocin.
- The female hormone oestrogen is linked to emotional sensitivity. Men are naturally at a disadvantage, as their sex hormone, testosterone, does not aid in sensitivity- quite the opposite.
- Furthermore, oxytocin is flooded in new mothers during and after birth and is key in the attachment process. It is released on skin to skin contact- something breast-feeding mothers are doing continuously.
- These biological differences between men and women could account for the differing traditional roles of the mother and father.
7
Q
expand on the +ve AO3 point: Hardy, that matches with the AO1 point: explanation - biology
A
- Hardy (1999) found that fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress, in comparison to mothers.
- These results appear to support the argument that the lack of oestrogen in men means that fathers are not equipped with the right hormones to form close relationships with their children.
- This research suggests that the role of the father is biologically determined because it is restricted by their biological makeup.
8
Q
expand on the +ve? AO3 point: Li et al, that matches with the AO1 point: explanation - biology
A
- New research suggests that men can also undergo hormonal changes when they become fathers, including increases in oxytocin. Research into new Fathers showed that their testosterone levels dropped after the birth of their new baby, and oxytocin levels rose. Testosterone usually hinders the production of oxytocin.
- Evidence further shows that, in fathers, oxytocin facilitates physical stimulation of infants during play as well as the ability to synchronize their emotions with their children.
- This has implications for treatments of fathers with post-natal depression- a mental illness with a growing research base and understanding.
9
Q
AO1- cultural norms + laws
A
- Another explanation of multiple attachments and the secondary role of the father concerns differing cultural norms, laws and practices.
- Firstly, cultural stereotypes of what it means to be a Man/Father impact the father’s schemas about what role they should play. The classic “play-mate” Dad is a strong cultural norm across many different societies. This is likely to hugely impact the continuation of this idea and how it plays out in families (via processes like social learning theory for example).
- Furthermore, government laws surrounding paternity leave impact the amount of bonding time available for the father. In the Uk, up until last year, this was only two weeks (one week paid and one week at the company’s discretion but unpaid). Therefore demonstrating that society was not really giving an appropriate platform to allow fathers to bond - perpetuating stereotypes. This has now changed and fathers are allowed to share parental leave with their partners.
- Interestingly, the guidelines surrounding adoption are really strict- with both partners required to take a year’s parental leave.
- In this way we can see that government laws impact whether infants are able to form multiple attachments including attachments with their fathers. In order for attachments to be fostered, time has to be spent together, and this is not possible if it is facilitated by norms and laws.
10
Q
expand on the +ve? AO3 point: Implications, that matches with the AO1 point: explanation - biology
A
- In every maternity ward across the country, midwives now actively encourage new fathers to engage in skin to skin contact with their newborns immediately after birth and once the new Mother has engaged in this.
- Fathers are encouraged to remove their shirt and hold their baby close. This stimulates the production of oxytocin and begins to foster the attachment bond. This is now common NHS practice.
11
Q
Extra AO3
A
- Research has also found other factors important in affecting the father-infant relationship.
- The type of attachment fathers had with their own parents appears to lead to similar attachment with their children (in the same way that the IWM and continuity hypothesis does for Mothers).
- The intimacy shown between the father and mother is also another mitigating factor in success of their child’s attachment, as well as the level of support he gives in coparenting- all affecting attachment with the child.
