The role of the father

Question 1

what evidence suggests that fathers are much less likely to become babies first attachment figure compared to mothers

Answer 1

• Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found majority of babies became attached to their mothers around 7 months. In only 3% of cases was the father the sole object of attachment. In 27% of cases the father was the joint first object of attachment with mothers

Question 2

give figures to suggest that fathers go on to become important attachment figures

Answer 2

• 75% of babies studied by Schaffer and Emerson formed an attachment with fathers by 18 months- determined by fact they protested when fathers walked away- a sign of attachment.

Question 3

who carried out a study to find a distinctive role for fathers

Answer 3

Grossmann et al. (2002)

Question 4

explain research into a distinctive role for fathers

Answer 4

• Grossmann et al. (2002) carried out a longitudinal study where babies attachments were studied into teens.
• looked at both parents behaviour and its relationship to the quality of the babies later attachments to other ppl.
• quality of a babies attachment to mothers but not fathers was related to attachments in adolescence. suggests attachment to fathers less important.
• however found that quality of fathers play was related to quality of attachment in adolescence.
• suggests fathers have a distinctive role from mothers- one more to do with play and stimulation than emotional development.

Question 5

explain the role of fathers as primary attachment figures

Answer 5

• there is evidence to suggest that when fathers take on role of primary caregiver they are able to adopt to the emotional role more typically associated with mothers.
• Field 1978 filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers
• primary caregiver fathers were the same as the primary caregiver mothers as they spent more time smiling, imitating and holding babies than secondary caregiver fathers.
• fathers can provide responsiveness required for a close emotional attachment showing reciprocity and interactional synchrony.

Question 6

why is a limitation confusion over research questions

Answer 6

• some researchers actually just want to find out about their role as secondary caregivers but others are more concerned with them as primary caregiver/attachment figures
• former seen as fathers behaving differently from mothers and having distinctive role. Later found fathers take on maternal role
• confusing so depends on specifics

Question 7

why is a limitation conflicting evidence

Answer 7

• finding cary according to methodology being used
• longitudinal studies like Grossmann suggest secondary caregiver fathers play a distinctive role in child’s development but if this is true we would see single mother household raised children turning out different. But family studies like McCallum and Golombok 2004 consistently show that these children don’t develop differently
• means the question if they have a distinctive role remains unanswered.

Question 8

why is a strength real world application

Answer 8

• can be used to offer advice to parents- make them relax over making decisions of who will work/stay at home and not have to worry about stereotypical roles To make the economically best situation.
• offers reassuring advice that fathers are capable of being primary attachment figures and single mother or lesbian families can be informed that not having a father around won’t affect development of child.
• parental anxiety therefore reduced.