Multiple attachments and the role of the father

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find?

• the majority of babies become attached to their mother first (this happens around 7 months)

• In only 3% of cases the father was the first sole object of attachment

• In 27% of cases the father was the joint first object of attachment with the mother

• Within a few weeks or months they then formed secondary attachments to other family members, including the father

• In 75% of infants studied, an attachment was formed with the father by the age of 18 months

• This was indicated by the fact the infants protested when their father walked away, a sign of attachment

What is the role of the father?

• The quality of fathers’ play with infants is related to children’s attachments in adolescence

• Fathers can act as primary caregivers and adopt behaviours seen in mothers

• The key to attachment is the level of responsiveness, not the gender of the parent

What was Grossman’s (2002) study?

Grossman (2002) conducted a longitudinal study. Quality of attachment with the mother was linked to quality of attachments in adolescence. However, quality of fathers’ play with infants was related to quality of adolescent attachments. 

What was Paquette’s (2004) study?

Paquette (2004) concluded that fathers encourage risk-taking behaviour and are catalysts for children exploring unfamiliar situations and taking chances.

What did Paqettes and Grossman’s studies suggest?

Fathers have a distinct role in attachment that is more to do with play and stimulation than nurturing/

What is an example of fathers demonstrating sensate responsiveness?

Field (1978) filmed interactions between 4-month-old babies with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers, and primary caregiver fathers. Primary caregiver fathers, like mothers, spent more time smiling, imitating and holding infants than the secondary caregiver fathers.

Fathers can be the more nurturing attachment figure. The key to attachment is the level of responsiveness, not gender of the parent. 

Evaluation: economic developments

Evaluation: inconsistency

Research into the role of the father is inconsistent. Some studies focus on fathers as primary caregivers, while others focus on them as secondary caregivers. This creates issues with reliability.

Evaluation: I/D

Research into the role of the father can be socially sensitive. The research suggests that children might be disadvantaged by certain child rearing practices e.g. if they do not have a father figure. MacCallum & Golombok (2004) found children in single-parent or same-sex parent families do not develop any differently to those in two-parent heterosexual families.