The Role of the Father

Question 1

What’s the difference between primary attachment figure and primary caregiver?

Answer 1

attachment figure: who the baby has the strongest attachment with
caregiver: who spends the most time with the baby caring for its needs
(it can be the same person)

Question 2

does ‘father’ always mean the biological male parent?

Answer 2

no, it refers to the child’s closest male caregiver

Question 3

who is likely to be the baby’s first attachment figure? mother / father?

Answer 3

mother
3% of the time it was the father only
27% of the time it was joint with mum and dad

Question 4

what is a suggested role of the father (Grossmann)?

Answer 4

play and stimulation which has been found to be important in later adolescent attachments

Question 5

In what circumstances do fathers display reciprocity and interactional synchrony?

Answer 5

when fathers are given the role of the primary caregiver