Role of the father Flashcards
ao3: Supporting research evidence for the role of the father as a ‘play mate’ rather than a PCG.
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.
a03: conflicting evidence of the role of the father
Results can differ based on the method used.
Stduies such as Grossmann - Longitudinal study
- Fathers as secondary attachment figures have important distinctive role in child’s development involving play and stimulation.
We would expect children in lesbian parent or single mother families would develop differently.
Though, some studies consistently show children do not develop differently from children in a hetrosexual relationship.
The question to whether fathers have a distinct role remains unanswered.
ao3: Bias in research
Perceptions about how fathers should behave can be created by sterotypical accounts and images of parenting roles and behaviour, for example those used in advertising.
These stereotypes (e.g. fathers arent pcg, fathers are stricter i.e.) may cause unitentional oberver bias, whereby researchers see what ther expect to see rather recording objective reality in research. Findings in role of the father research may be flawed and not reflect.
What does Schaffer and Emerson’s research say about father’s?
75% of infants formed attachment with father at 18months.
Determined when babies protested when their father walked away - sign of attachment.
Who sugguested that fathers had a distintive role compared to mothers and what is it shown by research.
Grossmann - looked at both parents behaviour and relationship to the quality of their babi’s later behaviour.
Quality of attachment with the father may be less influential in adolesence.
fathers role is more to do with play and stimulation rather than emotional development.
What does research show about fathers as primary attachment figures.
Tiffany field
Research shows that the father in a single parent family is more likely to adopt the traditional maternal role.
ao3: real world application - research used to offer parents advice
parent sometimes agonise over deciosns such as who should become the pcg. For some this may impact the decision of having children altogether. Mothers may feel pressured to stay at home because of sterotypical views. Equally fathers may be pressured to go to work. Research can give reassuring advice, for example herterosexual families can be assured that fathers are cable of being pcg. Alsolesbian/ single mother families can be informed that not having a father does not effect a childs development. Therefore parental anxiety can be reduced.
