Role of the father

• What did Grossman (2002) find about the role of fathers?

  Fathers have more of a play and stimulation role
• What did Tiffany Field (1978) find about fathers?

  Fathers can be primary caregivers and adopt the behaviours of mothers
• What are the factors for why women are the primary caregiver?

  • Biological: oestrogen creates higher levels of nurturing
  • Social: gender roles and stereotypes
• Who researched the role of the father?

  Grossmann et al. (2002)
• What type of study was the role of the father?

  Longitudinal (attachments studied into teen ages)
• What was the procedure of the research into the role of the father?

  Researchers looked at parents' behaviour and the relationship to the quality of attachments their infants would form later in life
• What did Grossmann find when researching the role of the father?

  Fathers have a role involved in play, simulation and risk taking rather than emotional development
• What happens when fathers become the primary caregiver

  They adopt roles associated with mothers by becoming more emotional
• What are limitations to the research of roles of the father?

  • Conflicting evidence shows that babies brought up in homes without male father figures develop no differently to those who do have father figures
  • Lack of clarity in the question as fathers can take on 'maternal' roles as the primary caregiver
• What is a strength of the research into the role of the father?

  • It can be used to offer advice to parents
  • eliminate pressure for the mother to be the primary caregiver as the father can adopt the same behaviours
  • Reassure that not having a father figure does not affect child development