The Role of the Father

Question 1

What did Hrdy find?

Answer 1

fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress, supporting the biological explanation that the lack of oestrogen in men means that fathers are not equipped innately to form close attachment with their infant

Question 2

What are Hrdy conclude?

Answer 2

This suggests that the role of the father is restricted and biologically determined because of their makeup

Question 3

What did Geiger find?

Answer 3

that a father’s play interactions were more exciting compared to the mother’s and suggests that the role of the father is as a playmate and not as a sensitive parent responding to the needs of their infants

Question 4

What does Geiger findings suggest?

Answer 4

fathers have a different role in attachment, one to do with play and stimulation rather than nurturing

Question 5

What did McCallum et al find ?

Answer 5

• children growing up in single-sex parent families do not develop any differently from those in two parent heterosexual families

Question 6

What does McCallum findings suggest?

Answer 6

• the fathers role as a secondary attachment figure is not important

Question 7

Inconsistent Findings on men

Answer 7

• suggests they cannot answer the simple question of what role do fathers have?
• Geiger
• Hrdy
• Mccallum
• all our concerned with different attachment figures some are primary others are secondary