role of the father

• lamb 1987?

  • found that children form strong attachments with fathers but for different reasons
  • through play
  • shows that fathers have vital role in attachment but developed differently to role of mum
• field 1978 method?

  filmed 4 month old babies with:

  • pcg mother
  • pcg father
  • secondary cg father
• field 1978 findings?

  • pcg fathers like mum spent more time smiling/imitating/holding infants than 2nd cg
  • key to attachment relationships is level of responsiveness not gender of parent
• field 1978 conclusion?

  shows that fathers do play a role in attachment & is just as important as mum if they are pcg
• 3 * of role of father?

  1. father is important for mothers not just children
  2. benefits children in long term
  3. can help prevent negative development outcomes
• X does not explain why kids who aren't raised by dads don't turn out differently?

  • maccallum & golombok 2004 found that children who grow up in single/same sex parent families do not develop any differently from those who do have fathers
  • ? population
  • opposing research suggests that their role is not necessary in development of secure att
  • children can develop normally with just influence of mothers
• * dad important for mothers too not just for children?

  • research suggests that supportive fathers provide mothers with much time needed away from childcare
  • helps to reduce stress, improve self-esteem & improve quality of mothers relationship with her kids
  • shows father is important in att for many people within family
  • provides practical application
• * benefits children in long term?

  • has been suggested that children with secure att to fathers go on to have better relationships with peers
  • less behavioural problems & are better able to regulate emotions
  • shows father is important in early att to help childs emotional development in later life by creating healthy iwm
• * helps prevent negative outcomes?

  • has been found children who grow up without fathers have been seen to do worse in school
  • have higher levels of aggression - especially boys
  • shows dad is important in att as they improve childs academic development in later life by allowing them to identify support
  • pedersen points out most studies focus on single mums from poor socioeconomic backgrounds
  • may be this that causes negative behavior/poor academic success - poor area/low income not that they lack father
  • cannot establish causal relationship between dads & better development in children