The role of the father

Question 1

Evidence to suggest babies are much less likely to become attached to the father first.

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson - Majority became attached to mother at around 7 months
3% of cases father was first sole object of attachment and in 27% the father was the joint first object of attachment with the mother.

Question 2

In Schaffer and Emerson what % of babies had formed an attachment with their father by 18 months

Answer 2

75%

Question 3

Grossman 2002 - do father’s hold specific value in a child’s development

Answer 3

Longitudinal study - babies studied into their teens
look at relationships with both parents and found that it was the quality of attachment with mum that related to attachments in adolescence suggests father’s are less important than mothers.
But found quality of father’s play is related to attachments in adolescence this suggests they have an alternative role

Question 4

What did Field (1978) find about the role of the father

Answer 4

When they were primary caregiver they smiled and imitated and held hands as much as mothers did so father’s can be primary caregiver too

Question 5

What are 2 limitations of research into the role of the father

Answer 5

The lack of clarity into the question being asked
The finding vary according to the methodology used

Question 6

What is a strength of research into the role of the father

Answer 6

It can be used to offer advice to parents

Question 7

How is confusion over the question being asked a limitation of research into the
role of the father

Answer 7

What is the role of the father inn attachment is more complicated than it sounds - some research wants to understand their role as secondary attachment figure but others as a primary - the latter find they can take a more maternal role but the former investigate their differences from mothers

Question 8

How is varying findings according to methodology a limitation of research into the role of the father