Role of the father

Question 1

Tiffany Field 1

Answer 1

FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT
- Fathers have the potential to be the more emotion-focused primary attachment figure
- Primary caregiver role

Question 2

Schaffer & Emerson 1

Answer 2

FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT
- Most fathers go on to be an important attachment figure
- 75% of babies studied by S&E formed an attachment with their father by 18 months old
- Secondary attachment

Question 3

Klaus Grossmann 1

Answer 3

FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT
- Fathers appear to have an important role with play and stimulation

Question 4

Klaus Grossmann 2

Answer 4

FATHERS ARE NOT IMPORTANT
- The attachment to fathers is less important than the attachment to mothers
- Role is less to do with emotional development and more to do with play and stimulation

Question 5

Schaffer & Emerson 2

Answer 5

FATHERS ARE NOT IMPORTANT
- Majority of babies first become attached to the mother - only 3% of cases are first attached to the father
- Role is less likely to be Primary attachment

Question 6

Tiffany Field 2

Answer 6

FATHERS ARE NOT IMPORTANT
- When fathers aren’t the primary caregiver the infant is less likely to express an emotional attachment
- Secondary caregiver

Question 7

Role of the father - evaluation - Strength

Answer 7

• Real world application -
• Fathers may feel pressured to focus on work rather than parenting
• In some families that might not be economically the best solution
• Research into the role of the father can be used as reassuring advice for parents
• e.g parents can be informed that fathers are quite capable of becoming a primary attachment figure

Question 8

Role of the father - evaluation - Limitation

Answer 8

• Nomothetic approach but difficult to generalise
• So many factors will affect the father’s role and have an effect on the child’s emotional development
• e.g culture, fathers age, job etc