Role of the Father

Why has research into the role of the father come about?

Father= role of main male caregiver eg biological father

Majority of research on mother w fathers neglected , research has been carried out to answer if babies attach to fathers at all and if so when , if fathers have a distinctive role in attachm and can fathers be primary care givers

Are fathers attachment figures, if so when?

Schaffer and Emerson 1964= measured through protest when they leave room= infants usually attach 2 mothers first around 7 months= 3% father fist and 27% mother, gen secondary attachment formed with father in weeks following first attachment and at 18 months = 75% babies had formed attachment to father

So they DO form secondary attachments to father but generally form primary attachment 2 mothers first, Schaffer and Emerson suggest due 2 father being financial earner so mother with kids more

Do fathers have a distinctive role ?

Specific value/dinstinctive role/unique contribution in dev? Grossman et al 2002=longitudinal study of parents behaviour and relationship 2 quality of infants later attachments = quality of infant attachment 2 mother linked 2 attachments in adolescence= suggests fathers attachments less imp

But found qual of fathers play w their babies relates to quality of adolescent attachments

DO have distinctive role but more to do w play and simulation than nurture and emotional dev like mothers

Can fathers make good primary caregivers when they want 2 be?

When they do take on role often adopt emotional role more typically of mothers

Tiffany Field et al 1978= face 2 face interactions between infants and primary caregiver mothers+ fathers and secondary caregiver fathers observed and compared= found p cg fathers= spent more time like mothers holding, smiling and imitatating like mothers more than sec cg fathers did= there4 displaying important behaviours of caregiver interaction like interactional synchrony and reciprocity= crucial 4 building attachments

Father CAN be more nurturing= gender not key but lvl of responsiveness to child’s needs

Weakness on conflicting evidence and also social sensitivity

Grossman et al= suggested fathers sec attachment fig= imp and distinct role in children dev but then expect children growing up in single mother or lesbian parent fams 2 turn out diff eg disdvantaged but research from McCallum and Golombok 2004 found there was no developmental diffs between these children and ones who grew up in heterosexual 2 parents fam COULD b due 2 these parents adapting 2 accommodate the role of fathers = suggests fathers role not as imp as Grossman proposed and that lesbians/single mothers can adapt = conflicting evidence still leaves question unanswered however.

Also leads 2 social sensitivity =insinuates fathers role not imp creating negative , prejudicial and harmful consequences and gender stereotyping 2 fathers.

Strength on real world application

Can b used for advice 4 parents + prospective parents who agonise over who should take on primary cg role= some decide 2 not have kids at all =mothers could feel pressure 2 stay at home due 2 stereotypical views on mothers and fathers role= fathers have pressure 2 focus on work more than parenting= might not be economical 4 parents or just not what some parents want 2 do= research in2 role of fathers offers advice used 2 reassure parents 2explain fathers just as capable as being primary cg as mothers are =less stress on thinking child may miss out regardless of who’s staying home/ who takes leave and can reassure single mother/ lesbian parents that not having father has no negative effect on children’s dev

= reassures and reduces parental anxiety about role of the father = plan and prioritise

Considering economic implications

Research into fathers role encourages father 2 remain home and take primary attachment roles= contribute less 2 economy = mothers return 2 work and contribute more 2 economy =fams can better decide who takes mat/paternity leave based on their individual situation =imp as fathers can take time off and reduces gender stereotyping + closes gender pay gap + potential 2 become equal

Roles of fathers a sec attachm figs explained thru biological processes/genetic makeup

Fathers tend not to b p cg could b simply down 2 traditional gender roles= women expected 2 b more caring and nurturing then men , biological perspective= female hormones, oestrogen =higher levels of nurturing = women biologically pre disposed 2 b p attachm fig= Hardy 1999 found fathers less able 2 detect low lvl of infant distress in comparison 2 mothers = fathers role may be restricted to their genetic makeup/ traditional gender roles than caregiver interactions