The role of the father Flashcards
Historically, how were fathers viewed ?
- fathers played a minor role in parenting
- fathers were seen as the provider of the family
- fathers were seen as playmates
What do mothers show ?
Sensitive responsiveness
What is meant by sensitive responsiveness ?
The ability to recognise and respond to infants needs
What are the factors that affect the relationship between fathers and their children?
- degree of sensitivity
- type of attachment with their own parent
- marital intimacy
- supportive co-parenting
Degree of sensitivity
More secure attachment to their children are found in fathers who show more sensitivity to childrens needs
Type of attachment with their own parent
Single parent fathrrs tend to form similar attachments with their children that they had with their own parent
Marital intimacy
The degree of intimacy a father has within his relationship with his partner affects the type of attachment he will have with his children
Who investigated evidence for degree of sensitivity ?
Gelger
What did gelger find ?
He showed that fathers play interactions are more exciting and pleasurable than mothers
Mothers are more nurturing and affectionate
This supports the idea that father’s are playmates rather than caregivers
Supportive co-parenting
The amount of support a father gives to his partner in helping to care for their children affects the type of attachment he will have with his children
Who investigated evidence for the type of attachment wuth own parents ?
Bernier
What did Bernier find ?
He found that single-parent fatger attachments with chikdren aged 4-6 years was similar to the attachment that fathers had with their own parents.
As no such effect was found with married fathers in Bernier’s study, what does this suggest ?
It suggest that the continuity of attachments occurs more in fathers who are the main care giver
Who investigated the evidence for marital intimacy?
Belsky
