The Role Of The Father Flashcards
Fathers were the primary attachment in __% of babies (Schaffer & Emerson (1964)).
3.
There is an expectation in ________ culture that the father should play a greater role in bringing ________ up.
The number of mothers working full time have ________, and the father therefore play a more ________ role.
Western, children.
Increased, active.
What was the aim of Grossman (2002)?
To look at the relationship between both parents’ behaviours and their infants’ quality of attachments.
What was the method of Grossman (2002)?
Longitudinal study.
What is a longitudinal study?
An examination of the same group over a long period of time to detect any changes.
What were the results of Grossman (2002)?
Quality of the mother’s (not father’s) attachments with infants was related to the infant’s attachments in adolescence.
HOWEVER, the quality of the father’s play with the infants was related to the infant’s attachments in adolescence.
What was the aim of Field (1978)?
To find out whether male and female primary caregivers act differently.
What was the method of Field (1978)?
Filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, primary caregiver fathers and secondary caregiver fathers.
What were the results of Field (1978)?
Primary caregivers (mothers and fathers) spent more time smiling, imitating and holding the infant than secondary caregiver fathers.
What was the conclusion of Field (1978)?
The key to attachment in relationships is the level of responsiveness (NOT gender).
Why can fathers be primary caregivers?
Both genders have the same oxytocin levels when interacting with the infant.
Why are mothers more biologically adapted to be primary caregivers?
Mother has higher oxytocin levels during pregnancy and at birth.
What are advantages of the role of the father?
-McCallum & Golombok found that children growing up in single/same sex families didn’t develop differently to those in conventional families.
What are disadvantages of the role of the father?
-Field (1978) didn’t study secondary caregiver mothers.
-Lack of cultural validity, women are expected to be caring and sensitive.
-Women have higher levels of oestrogen and lower levels of testosterone compared to men.
What was the conclusion of Grossman (2002)?
Fathers have a different role in attachment (play and stimulation, rather than nurturing).
