The Role of the Father

Question 1

what was early research into attachment?

Answer 1

• focused on mother caregiver interactions
• mothers: more biologically nurturing so recognise ad respond to babies needs better

Question 2

what was bowlby’s view?

Answer 2

one primary caregiver, usually the mother, the father becomes a primary caregiver

Question 3

schaffer and emerson research

Answer 3

• found on 3% of babies had fathers as primary caregivers
• 27% of the babies had a joint attachment with mother and father

Question 4

what was grossman’s aim?

Answer 4

to research how important fathers are in children’s development

Question 5

grossman procedure

Answer 5

longitudinal study w 44 families, looked at the parents behaviour and its relationship to the quality of the children’s attachment experiences at 6, 10, and 16

Question 6

grossman findings

Answer 6

quality of infant attachment with mothers related to emotional stability in adolescence
- suggests fathers attachment to children is less important
the quality of fathers play was related to quality of adolescent attachments

Question 7

grossman conclusion

Answer 7

• fathers have a play and stimulation role in attachment
• well rounded teens need: mothers as primary to attach via nuturing, fathers as secondary to attach via play

Question 8

Field 1978

Answer 8

• filmed 4 month old babies face to face interactions with parents
• found no difference in the interactions between m + f as primaries w/ babies (suggests fathers are just as able)

Question 9

oxytocin

Answer 9

love hormone required for bonding and staying calm, typically higher in females and increased production during and after birth to allow mothers to bond with their babies

Question 10

oxytocin on children

Answer 10

• children w/ secure attachments will have higher levels ofoxytocin and better abilty to use it as a stress response

Question 11

oxytocin on fathers

Answer 11

• fathers who are primaries decrease testosterone and increase oxytocin to bond better
• suggests men can adapt biologically to the role which is determined by cultural norms