The Father’s Role In Attachment

Question 1

At what age did Schaffer and Emerson find that babies become attached to their mothers?

Answer 1

Around 7 months old.

Question 2

What percentage of cases in Schaffer and Emerson’s study were the father the first sole object of attachment?

Answer 2

3%

Question 3

What percentage of cases in Schaffer and Emerson’s study had the father and the mother as the joint first object of attachment?

Answer 3

27%

Question 4

By 18 months, what percentage of babies in Schaffer and Emerson’s study formed an attachment with just the father?

Answer 4

75%

Question 5

What did Grossmann et al’s longitudinal study look at?

Answer 5

Both parents behaviour and its relationship to the quality of their baby’s later attachments to other people.

Question 6

What was the first key finding of Grossman et al’s study?

Answer 6

A baby’s attachment to their mother (but not their father) was linked to attachment quality in adolescence.

Question 7

What was the second key finding in Grossmann et Al’s study?

Answer 7

The quality of a father’s play with the baby was related to adolescent attachment quality.

Question 8

What conclusion can be made from Grossmann et Al’s study?

Answer 8

Fathers may have a different role than mothers, focusing more on play and stimulation, while mothers are involved in emotional development.

Question 9

What did Field study in 1978?

Answer 9

Filmed 4 month old babies interacting with primary caregiver mothers, primary caregiver fathers, and secondary caregiver fathers.

Question 10

What were the findings of Field’s 1978 study?

Answer 10

Primary caregiver fathers spent more time smiling, initiating and holding babies than secondary, like primary caregiver mothers.

Question 11

What conclusions can be made from Field’s 1978 study?

Answer 11

Fathers can be emotionally responsive and form close attachments, but this may occur more when they take on the primary caregiver role.

Question 12

What are the strengths of research into the role of the father in attachment?

Answer 12

• practical applications.
• advice to parents.

Question 13

What are the limitations of research into the role of the father in attachment?

Answer 13

• lack of clarity.
• Grossmann’s study.
• bias in research.

Question 14

What are the practical applications of research into the role of the father in attachment?

Answer 14

• heterosexual parents: father can take on the primary attachment role without harming development.

• lesbian or single parent families: no harm or child development without a father figure; children can form secure attachments with any primary caregiver.

Question 15

How can research into the role of the father in attachment provide advice/reassurance to parents?

Answer 15

• heterosexual parents: fathers are capable of being primary attachment figures.

• lesbian or single parent families: not having a father doesn’t affect child development, reducing parental anxiety.

Question 16

Why is lack of clarity a limitation of this research?

Answer 16

The role of the father is complex and unclear. Some studies focus on fathers as secondary attachment figures, other as primary, making it difficult to define their exact role.

Question 17

How can bias in research be a limitation?

Answer 17

• stereotypes about fathers being stricter or less nurturing could lead to observer bias.
• important to recognise that fathers can be just as nurturing and capable as mothers when actively involved in caregiving.