The role of the father

Role of fathers:

Grossman (2002) longitudinal study of parent behaviour and the quality of children attachment in their teens. Found that quality with mother was important but not with father BUT the quality of fathers play had an effect - showing a different type of attachment.

Primary attachment fathers:

Field (1978) filmed 4 month babies with primary mothers, primary fathers and secondary fathers. Primary fathers were the same as primary mothers and spent time interacting with babies and smiling at them. It is not the sex of the parent but how much interaction the spend with them.

Ambiguous ‘role’

Some researchers investigate their roles as a secondary attachment figure, some as primary, some on specific aspects of attachment, etc. This makes the question of a true ‘role’ unclear, no answer (?)

Socially sensitive research

This may offend people who do not have a stable relationship with their father or lesbian couples. This would also pose a problem to feminist psychologist as it is reinforcing traditional gender roles

Real-world application

Shows fathers can take on primary caregiver role, allows parents to plan who takes on what ‘role,’ makes fathers more comfortable that they can be a primary attachment figure