role of the father ATM

Question 1

father

Answer 1

The father is anyone who takes on the role of the main male caregiver

Question 2

are father more or less likely to be babies first attachment figure?

Answer 2

much less

Question 3

attachment to fathers

Answer 3

• Most fathers become important attachment figures
• 75% of the babies studied by Schaffer formed an attachment with their father by the age of 18 months
• This was determined by the fact that the babies protested when their father walked away

Question 4

distinctive role for fathers

Answer 4

• Do caregiving men make a unique contribution to early development?
• Grossmann carried out a longitudinal study where babies attachments were studied until they were into their teens
• Quality of a baby’s attachment with mothers but not fathers was related to attachment in adolescence

Question 5

fathers as primary attachment figures

Answer 5

* Field filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers
* Smiling, imitating and holding babies are all part of reciprocity and interaction synchrony

Question 6

confusion over research questions

Answer 6

• Lack of clarity over the questions being asked
• Some researchers attempting to answer this question actually want to understand the role of fathers as secondary attachment figures
• Difficult to offer a simple answer to the ‘role’ of the father

Question 7

conflicting evidence

Answer 7

• Role of fathers is that findings vary according to the methodology used
• Grossmann have suggested that fathers as secondary attachment figures have an important and distinct role in their children’s development

Question 8

conflicting evidennce counterpoint

Answer 8

Could be that fathers typically take on distinctive roles in two parent heterosexual families