the role of the father

Question 1

Evolutionary Theory:

Answer 1

• Seeks to understand aspects of human functioning in terms of ultimate causes.
• Believes that basic psychological mechanisms are the results of adaptive processes.
• Our aim is to pass on our genes (as a consequence of reproduction).

Question 2

Mate preferences:

Answer 2

When it comes to producing offspring, women must make a far greater investment.
* Number of eggs vs sperm
* Duration of pregnancy.
* Limited age at which they can become pregnant.

Question 3

woman vs man

offspring

Answer 3

Women can be sure that offspring are theirs, men cannot, so they are always likely to care more for the offspring produced.

All this means that women must be choosy when selecting a mate. They invest more so they must make sure they make the right choice.

For a woman, ‘mate value’ is determined by fitness, in terms of their ability provide adequate provision: ‘resource capacity’.

For a male, ‘mate value’ is determined by ‘reproductive capacity’ e.g., age or attractiveness.

Question 4

Limitations

Answer 4

 Due to the time lag between now and the time that our evolutionary instincts evolved, it’s hard to be exact in interpreting the precise selective pressures we were under.
 Modern conditions differ from those of our ancestors. So, what was adaptive then may not be adaptive now.
 Deterministic.
 Reductionist.

Question 5

Research Task: Are fathers important in attachment?

Answer 5

 Schaffer and Emerson showed 75% of babies form attachments to fathers after 18 months, but the first primary person they attach to is their mother.
 Grossmann et al. (2002) did a longitudinal study that related behaviour with the baby to the quality of attachment and concluded that attachment to fathers is less important to that of mothers and attachments to fathers were more likely to form in adolescence. However, the quality of fathers play with babies and the quality of the attachment in adolescence were related and suggested fathers had a different role to mothers; more to do with play and simulation rather than emotional development.
 Field (1978) compared behaviours of primary caretaker mothers with primary and secondary caretaker fathers. Face to face interactions were analysed from footage with 4 months old infants. Fathers played more and held babies less. However, primary caretaker fathers engaged in significantly more smiling and imitations than did secondary caretaker fathers and these were comparable with mothers’ behaviour.
 Brown et al. (2012): Investigated father involvement, paternal sensitivity and father-child attachment security at 13 months and 3 years of age. Results demonstrated that involvement and sensitivity influenced father−child attachment security at age 3. Involvement was a greater predictor of secure attachment when fathers were rated as less sensitive.

Question 6

 Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 6

showed 75% of babies form attachments to fathers after 18 months, but the first primary person they attach to is their mother.

Question 7

 Grossmann et al. (2002)

Answer 7

did a longitudinal study that related behaviour with the baby to the quality of attachment and concluded that attachment to fathers is less important to that of mothers and attachments to fathers were more likely to form in adolescence. However, the quality of fathers play with babies and the quality of the attachment in adolescence were related and suggested fathers had a different role to mothers; more to do with play and simulation rather than emotional development.

Question 8

 Field (1978)

Answer 8

compared behaviours of primary caretaker mothers with primary and secondary caretaker fathers. Face to face interactions were analysed from footage with 4 months old infants. Fathers played more and held babies less. However, primary caretaker fathers engaged in significantly more smiling and imitations than did secondary caretaker fathers and these were comparable with mothers’ behaviour.

Question 9

 Brown et al. (2012):

Answer 9

Investigated father involvement, paternal sensitivity and father-child attachment security at 13 months and 3 years of age. Results demonstrated that involvement and sensitivity influenced father−child attachment security at age 3. Involvement was a greater predictor of secure attachment when fathers were rated as less sensitive.

Question 10

• Role of the father: summary

Answer 10

• Schaffer and Emerson show that 75% of babies form attachments to their father after 18 months but first attachment is to the mother.
• Grossmann et al. (2002) showed that father’s role has more to do with play and simulation rather than emotional development.