role of the father

Question 1

What did Shaffer find in relation to father being primary attachment figures?

Answer 1

• 3% of fathers are primary attachment figures

- 27% have both the mam and dad as primary attachments

Question 2

how many babies did schaffer find have secondary attachment with fathers?

Answer 2

75%

Question 3

what did Grossman find with attachment in teens?

Answer 3

attachment with he mother is more important in teenagers

fathers are less for nurturing and more for playing and stimulation

Question 4

what did grossman find about fathers being primary caregivers?

Answer 4

fathers can be primary caregivers if they are more nurturing (take on the mothers role)

this means levels of response are more important than gender

Question 5

negative evaluation:

evidence undermines the idea of fathers having distinct roles

Answer 5

• grossman (2002) found fathers with secondary attachment had a playful, stimulating role
• other studies (McCallum 2004) found children in single or same-sex families don’t develop differently to normal families
• suggests fathers role as a secondary attachment is not important

Question 6

negative evaluation:

research fails to provide a clear answer about fathers and primary attachment

Answer 6

• the answer could be related to traditional gender roles where women should be more caring than men
• so fathers don’t feel they should be as nurturing
• it could also be that hormones create higher levels of nurturing so women are biologically meant to be more nurturing

Question 7

negative evaluation:

improtant economic implications

Answer 7

• mothers feel pressure to stay at home because research says its vital to healthy development
• for some this may not economically be the best solution, and for society
• however, this research can also be a comfort to mothers who have to make hard decisions about not returning to work