The role of the father

A lot of attachment research has focused upon what caregiver?

The mother

Who found that whilst the mother is the primary attachment for most infants, secondary attachments can also form with the father?

Schaffer & Emerson

By what age have secondary attachments typically formed?

By 18 months

What percentage of infants have formed a secondary attachment with the father by 18 months?

75%

What type of study did Grossman conduct?

Longitudinal

Between what ages was Grossman’s study completed?

Infancy to adolescence

What did Grossman find about the quality of infant attachment with different caregivers up to adolescence?

• Quality of infant attachment with mothers, but not fathers, was related to children’s attachment in adolescence

• Suggests that father attachment was less important

In what way was it found that fathers had better quality attachments in adolescence?

Fathers’ play with infants

What did Grossman’s findings suggest about the role of the father?

The father’s role is more to do with play & stimulation, & less to do with nurturing

In the absence of a woman as a primary caregiver, what happens with fathers and infants?

Fathers adopt behaviours more typical of mothers

What are examples of the behaviours that Field found in primary caregiver fathers from filming 4-month-old babies in face-to-face interactions with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers & primary caregiver fathers?

More time smiling, imitating & holding infants than the secondary caregiver fathers

What is more important in the attachment relationship than the gender of the parent?

Level of sensitive responsiveness

Discuss research into the role of the father (16 marks)

Write your AO1 paragraph

• A lot of research into attachment has focused upon the mother, with Schaffer & Emerson finding the mother was the primary attachment figure for the majority of infants (65%). However, 75% of children formed a secondary attachment with the father by 18 months.

• Grossman carried out a longitudinal study into the relationship between parents' behaviour & the quality of children’s attachments from infancy to adolescence. Results found the quality of infant attachment with mothers (but not fathers) was related to children's attachment in adolescence, suggesting that attachment with the father was less important.

• However, the quality of fathers' play with infants was related to the quality of adolescent attachments. This suggests that fathers have a different role in attachment - one that is more to do with play & stimulation, & less to do with nurturing.

• Research also suggests that when fathers do take on the role of being the main caregiver, they adopt behaviours more typical of mothers. For example, Field filmed 4-month-old babies in face-to-face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers & primary caregiver fathers. Results found primary caregiver fathers, like mothers, spent more time smiling, imitating & holding infants than the secondary caregiver fathers. This suggests the key to attachment is the level of sensitive responsiveness, not the gender of the parent.

Discuss research into the role of the father (16 marks)

Write your strength AO3 PEEL (provide mothers with support)

• Point: One strength of research into the role of the father is that it has been shown fathers are not just important for children, but for mothers too.

• Evidence: For example, supportive & active fathers can provide mothers with time away from childcare responsibilities, reducing the constant demands placed on them.

• Explain: This can help reduce stress & improve the mother’s health & well-being, & ultimately improve the quality of the mother's attachment with her children.

• Link: Therefore, this suggests that fathers are important figures in the household, as they provide benefits for the entire family.

Discuss research into the role of the father (16 marks)

Write your strength AO3 PEEL (Verrisimo)

• Point: One strength of research into the role of the father is that it appears the father plays an important role in a child’s socialisation.

• Evidence: For example, Verrisimo observed pre-school children’s relationships with their mothers & fathers, then later conducted a follow-up assessment of social interactions when the child started nursery.

• Explain: Results found a strong attachment to the father was the best predictor of the ability to make friends in school, suggesting children with secure attachments to their fathers go on to have better relationships with peers.

• Link: As such, this demonstrates the positive influence fathers can have on developmental outcomes.

Discuss research into the role of the father (16 marks)

Write your limitation AO3 PEEL (socially sensitive)

• Point: One limitation of research into the role of the father is that it can be socially sensitive.

• Evidence: For example, research that argues the role of the mother cannot be replaced by the father may lead single or same-sex parent families feeling they cannot fully provide for the needs of the infant.

• Explain: However, alternative research has found that children growing up in single or same-sex parent families do not develop any differently from those in two-parent heterosexual families.

• Link: Overall, this suggests that research into the role of the father must be approached with caution, as some conclusions may be biased & not apply to modern-day families.