The role of the father

• How has the role of the father changed over the years?

  • Shift from traditional caregiver to playmate
  • Recognition of fathers as nurturing attachment figures
  • Variability in attachment roles based on research findings
• What do some psychologists claim about the biological role of the father?


  They claim that men are not equipped to form attachments.
• What biological evidence do psychologists point to regarding attachment in fathers?


  They suggest that the hormone oestrogen underlies caring behavior in women.
• What did Field's research in 1978 reveal about primary caregiver fathers?


  Primary caregiver fathers spent more time smiling, imitating, and holding infants than secondary caregiver fathers.
• What is the key factor in the attachment relationship according to the study material?


  The level of responsiveness, not the gender of the parent.
• What role do some researchers argue that fathers primarily fulfill?


  Fathers primarily fulfill the role of a playmate.
• What did Grossman's longitudinal study in 2002 find about fathers' attachment roles?


  Quality of infant attachment with mothers was related to children's attachment in adolescence, but not with fathers.
• How did Grossman describe the quality of fathers' play with infants?


  Fathers' play with infants is more about play and stimulation than nurturing.
• What did Schaffer and Emerson find about infants' attachments to their fathers?


  75% of infants formed an attachment with their father by the age of 18 months.
• What indicates that an attachment has formed between an infant and their father according to Schaffer and Emerson?


  Infants protested when their fathers walked away.
• What does Geiger's research in 1996 suggest about the role of the father?


  • Fathers' play interactions are more exciting than mothers'.
  • Mothers' play interactions are more affectionate and nurturing.
  • Suggests fathers are more playmates than sensitive parents.
• What did Hrdy's research in 1999 find about fathers' ability to detect infant distress?


  Fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress compared to mothers.
• What does Hrdy's research support regarding the biological explanation of fathers' roles?


  It supports the idea that the lack of oestrogen in men limits their ability to form close attachments.
• What does Belsky et al.'s research in 2009 suggest about fathers' attachments?


  Fathers can form secure attachments if they have higher levels of marital intimacy.
• What is a weakness of research into attachment figures regarding fathers?


  There are inconsistent findings about the role of the father in attachments.
• Why is research into the role of the father considered confusing?

  Different researchers focus on different aspects of the father's role in attachment.
• What is the problem with inconsistent findings in research about the father's role?


  It makes it difficult for psychologists to answer the question, 'what is the role of the father?'
• What are the key points to evaluate regarding the role of the father in attachment?


  • Fathers may act as playmates rather than primary caregivers.
  • Biological factors may limit fathers' nurturing abilities.
  • Secure attachments depend on the father-mother relationship.
  • Inconsistent findings complicate understanding of fathers' roles.