ROLE OF THE FATHER

• role of the father

  Grossmann -

  quality of attachment with mothers but NOT fathers were related to attachments in teens

  • suggesting that attachments to fathers are less important
  • also found that mothers and fathers have different roles
  • men have a role of play and stimulation
  • whereas women have more to do with emotional development
• fathers as primary attachment figures

  when fathers are given this role, they take on more of an emotional role

  • Field -
  • filmed primary caregiver mothers, primary caregiver fathers, secondary caregiver fathers
  • primary caregivers fathers spent more time smiling, imitating and holding the baby
  • fathers can show responsive behaviour needed for close emotional attachment, but only expresses it when needed to
• 1. the strength of the role of the father is that there are real world applications

  it used to advise families

  in many families mothers feel pressured to stay at home and look after the children

  and fathers to go out to work

  stereotypes
• 2. (strength of rof to advise) however research from

  Lucassen

  men who show a sensitive response to their children form a more secure attachment
• 3. (strength of rof to advise) reassuring to parents

  fathers can be primary caregivers too - provides confidence
• 4. (strength of rof to advise) therefore

  parental anxiety will be reduced
• 1. a stength of rof is that it shows men have an important role

  Grossman

  shows that the role of the father involves play and stimulation
• 2. (strength of rof - roles) in addition, play was more exciting

  geiger

  play was more exciting than mothers supporting to a mothers

  supports the idea that fathers have an important role in attachment
• 3. (strength of rof - roles) role of the father is just a play mate

  not a sensitive figure who responds to the children's needs

  due to the cultural expectations that affect male behaviour
• 4. (strength of rof - roles) play mate seen as good thing

  fosters problem solving

  cognitive thinking

  communicative skills
• 5. (strength of rof - roles) therefore can be argued that

  fathers have a vital role of play and stimulation
• 1. a limit of rof is that there is confusion on what is being asked

  some researchers may be looking into the roles of fathers as primary caregivers

  while others look into them being secondary care givers
• 2. (limit of rof - question) when fathers are primary caregivers

  they take on a maternal role
• 3. (limit of rof - question) however it's not the case when fathers are secondary caregivers

  research is subject to bias

  observers hold stereotypes

  may cause unintentional observer bias

  don't see objective reality