the role of the father Flashcards
what role have fathers been seen to have played traditionally?
● a minor role in parenting of their children
● however, in recent times, society has changed a lot and fathers are playing a bigger role in the parenting of their children
what did schaffer and emerson find that the majority of babies became attached to first?
● majority of babies became attached to their mother first (happens around 7 months)
● in only 3% of cases, the father was the sole object of attachment
● in 27% of cases, father was joint first sole object of attachment with the mother
● in 75% of babies studied, an attachment was formed with father by 18 months, this was indicated by the fact that babies protested when their fathers walked away, a sign of attachment
what are the three different arguments regarding the role of the father?
● fathers are not psychologically / biologically / socially equipped to form attachments
● fathers are not ‘caregivers’ they are ‘playmates’
● fathers can demonstrate ‘sensitive responsiveness’ and can respond to the needs of their children
explain the argument that fathers are not psychologically / biologically / socially equipped to form attachments
● different hormones of men and women may play a role
● oestrogen underlies caring behaviour, which may make women more biologically suited to forming attachments
● there are cultural / social expectations that view child rearing as particularly feminine, this may deter males from taking on child rearing roles even if they want to
explain the argument that fathers are not ‘caregivers’ they are ‘playmates’
● grossman et all found that quality of attachment with father was less important for future development than quality of attachment with the mother
● but, fathers play related to quality of adolescent attachment - suggests fathers role in attachment is more to do with play and less with emotional care
explain the argument that fathers can demonstrate ‘sensitive responsiveness’ and can respond to the needs of their children
● evidence suggests that when fathers do take on roles of being the main caregiver, they adopt behaviours more typical of mothers
● field found that primary caregiver fathers spent more time smiling, imitating and holding babies than secondary caregiver fathers, all behaviours important in building a primary attachment
● therefore, fathers can adopt a more ‘emotional’ role
