attachment figures

• who investigated parent-infant attachment?

  schaffer and emerson in 1964
• outline parent-infant attachment

  infants become attached to mother first and then form secondary attachments by the age of 18 months
• who studied the role of the father?

  grossman in 2002
• outline the role of the father

  quality of play was related to quality of attachment so role is more of a stimulatory one
• who investigated fathers as primary carers?

  field in 1978
• outline fathers as primary carers

  fathers are able to take on the more caring and nurturing role associated with the mother
• strength - research support

  • Grossman
  • fathers provide stimulation and risk-taking behaviour which contributes to social and cognitive development
  • fathers play a valuable role
• weakness - contradictions

  • inconsistent findings
  • grossman = playmates and field = primary caregivers
  • attachment is more dependent on responsiveness over gender
• weakness - single-parent

  • socially sensitive
  • single-parent families develop just as well
  • fathers aren't essential for healthy development