The Role Of The Father Flashcards
In Schaffer and Emersons study, what percentage of fathers had a secondary attachment with their infants, and at what age
75% of infants had an attachment with their father at 18 months, shown by the infants protesting when their father walked away
What did bowlby say about men as caregivers and attachment figures
Bowlby believed that children have one primary attachment figure, usually the mother, but he conceded that this could in some cases also be the father
What are the traditional viewpoints between mothers and fathers
Researchers have seen the father less as a caregiver but more of a playmate, as their play is often more physical, unpredictable and exciting than mothers
Mothers average traditionally been seen as more nurturing and able to show sensitive responsiveness, but men can also develop this ability
What are the 4 factors that affect the relationship between fathers and infants
Degree of sensitivity
Type of attachment with own parents
Marital intimacy
Supportive co parenting
Degree of sensitivity: how does this affect the r/s between fathers and children
More secure attachments are found between children and fathers who show more sensitivity to their needs
Type of attachment with own parents: how does this affect the r/s between fathers and children
Single parents fathers tend to form similar attachments with their children than that they had with their own parents
Marital intimacy: how does this affect the r/s between fathers and children
The degree of intimacy between the father and his partner affects the type of attachment bw the father and his child
Supportive co parenting: how does this affect the r/s between fathers and children
Amount of support father gives partner when looking after child affects type of attachment
What did Geiger 1996 show about fathers play
Stated that fathers play is more exciting and pleasurable wheras mothers are more nurturing and affectionate, supporting the idea of fathers being playmates rather than caregivers
What did belsky et al 2009 say about marital intimacy
High levels of marital intimacy was related to secure father infant attachments and low levels of marital intimacy was related to insecure father child attachments, showing that the closeness of fathers and their partners reflects the type of attachment a father has with his children
What did brown et al 2010say about co parenting
Asssesed attachment in 68 families with infants aged 12-13 months, finding that high levels of supportive co parenting was related to secure attachment b/w fathers and infants but not b/w infants and mothers. This shows that supportive co parenting is importantly for fathers developing positive attachments with their children
2 weaknesses of research on the role of the father
- inconsistent findings on fathers
- why fathers do not become primary attachments
weaknesses of research on the role of the father: inconsistent findings on fathers
Some psychologists are interested in understanding the role of fathers being secondary attachments whereas other psychologists are interested with the father being primary attachment figures.the former stated that fathers behave different to mothers but the latter shows that fathers can take a maternal role too
weaknesses of research on the role of the father: why fathers do not become primary attachment figures
Due to traditional gender roles, women are more caring and nurturing than men, so fathers don’t feel the need to act like this. Additionally, female hormones like oestrogen lead to higher levels of nurturing, so are biologically more likely to take on the primary caregiver role
2 strengths of research on the role of the father
- positive influence of fathers on developmental outcomes
- supportive role of fathers for mothers
strengths of research on the role of the father: positive influence of fathers on developmental outcomes
Children with secure attachments to their fathers go on to have better relationships with their peers, exhibit fewer problem behaviours and are more able to regulate their emotions, illustrating that fathers can have a positive influence on developmental outcomes
strengths of research on the role of the father: supportive roles of fathers for mothers
Fathers are important not only for children but for mothers too. Supportive fathers provide mothers with much needed time off childcare , helping reduce stress in mothers and improve the quality of a mothers r/s with their childen
