The Role of the Father^ Flashcards
Schaffer & Emerson
fathers are less likely to be 1st AF VS mothers
majority of babies have mothers as 1st attachment around 7 months
3% has 1st as father
27%, the father was joint 1st AF
75% formed attachment with father by 18 months
- still important, determined by the fact babies protest when fathers leave
Grossmann et al
longitudinal study
babies studied until teens
look at parents’ beh and relationship
studied quality of later attachment
- better with mothers
- father attachment is less important
VS Grossmann et al
quality of father’s play with babies was related to the quality of adolescent attachment
fathers have diff roles
- play over emotional development
Field
fathers in the role of the primary caregiver
- can adopt the emotional role of mother
Procedure
- filmed 4 month baby
-face to face interactions with 1st mother, 2nd father, 1st father
- primary father spends more time with baby than secondary father
Fathers can be an emotional figure
- but only when the primary caregiver
Confusion Over Research Question
lacks clarity over “What’s the role of the father?”
some understand it as a secondary caregiver
- diff role from mothers - play and stimulation
primary caregiver
- can take a maternal role
Diff to answer
- depend on their specific role
Conflicting Evidence
findings vary due to methodology used
Grossmann et al
- fathers as 2nd AF - play and stimulation role
But then its expected of gay/ single mothers to lack development
McCallum & Golombok
- children don’t develop differently
VS Conflicting Evidence
fathers can take on distinctive roles in nuclear when present
if no fathers, mothers can adapt
Real World Application
offer advice
mothers feel pressured to stay home/ fathers to work
finding can offer advice that fathers can be 1st AF, but also that their absent wont affect development
Parental anxiety can be reduced
