AO1 - Multiple Attachments & Role of the Father

• Multiple (10/11 months) attachment behaviours are displayed towards several different people e.g. siblings, grandparents etc.
• By 10 months old, most babies have several multiple attachments, including attachments to mothers, fathers, siblings and extended family.
• In Schaffer & Emerson (1964) by 18 months, 31% of infants had five or more attachments.
• Most infants prefer contact with their father when in a positive emotional state and wanting to play.
• Fathers have been shown to adopt a more play-mate role than mothers.
• Much of the research has focused on the role of the mother and neglected that of the father.
• A father does not necessarily mean a child's biological parent, it could be their closest male caregiver.
• Schaffer & Emerson (1964) found that 75% of infants formed a significant attachment with their father by 18 months old.
• Grossman (2002) conducted a longitudinal study of 44 families comparing the role of fathers’ & mothers’ contribution to their children's attachment experiences at 6, 10 and 16 years.
• Grossman (2002) stated that the quality of the attachment between infants and their fathers was based on the time they spent together.
• Spending quality time through play helps fathers build strong attachments with their children.
• Distinctions are made between fathers as primary and secondary caregivers.
• Field (1978) studied face-to-face interactions through video footage with infants at 4 months of age.
• Field (1978) found that fathers as primary caregivers acted in the same way as mothers as primary caregivers.