the role of the father

Question 1

what are some statistics on the role of the father?

Answer 1

-ONS 2013 - 5.3 million british mothers were in employment, males accounted for nearly 10% of those staying at home to care for children, 9% of british single parents are male

Question 2

what is the father often referred to as?

Answer 2

the playmate

Question 3

what is sensitive responsiveness?

Answer 3

recognising and responding appropriately to infants needs
males can develop this ability when they’re the main care provider

Question 4

what are the 4 factors affecting the relationship between fathers and children?

Answer 4

-degree of sensitivity
-type of attachment with own parents
-marital intimacy
-supportive co-parenting

Question 5

research on the role of the father

Answer 5

-Hrdy - fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress (Lamb - fathers can quickly develop sensitive responsiveness)
-lucassen et al - meta-analysis of studies involving the strange situation, higher levels of sensitivity associated with greater levels of infant-father attachment security,

Question 6

briefly evaluate the role of the father

Answer 6

-children with secure father attachments have better relationships with their peers, fewer behaviour problems and are more able to regulate their emotions
-some research says kids with absent fathers grew up to do less well in school and have higher levels of aggression (so fathers can help prevent negative developmental outcomes)
-Pedersen 1979 - most studies on this focus on single mothers from poor backgrounds, so it could be caused by poverty, not an absent father
-fathers support mothers too, which can improve mother-child relationships
-society needs to catch up with fathers being able to be primary caregiver