Evaluation

• One strength of research into the role of the father is that it can offer valuable advice to parents, helping to reduce anxiety and support decision-making. Parents, particularly those in heterosexual relationships, often face difficult decisions about who should take on the primary caregiver role. Some may feel societal pressure for mothers to stay home or for fathers to focus on work due to stereotypical views.
• However, research into fathers’ roles shows that fathers are capable of becoming primary attachment figures. Additionally, studies suggest that children’s development is not negatively affected if fathers are absent, as seen in lesbian-parent or single-mother families. This information can help reassure parents that attachment and healthy child development can thrive in a variety of family structures. As a result, parents may experience less anxiety about their caregiving roles, allowing for more flexible family dynamics and informed choices about how to share caregiving responsibilities.
• One limitation of research into the role of the father is the lack of clarity regarding the specific question being asked. The question, "What is the role of the father?" in the context of attachment, is complex and multifaceted. Some researchers focus on understanding the father's role as a secondary attachment figure, while others, like Tiffany Field (1978), have shown that fathers can take on a more maternal role, actively engaging in nurturing and caregiving
• More recent research tends to view fathers as having a distinct role, different from mothers, often emphasizing play and social development. This variety in perspectives makes it difficult to provide a simple, universal answer to the question of the father's role in attachment, as the role may differ depending on whether the father is seen as a primary or secondary figure, or how the focus of the research is framed.
• A further limitation of research into the role of the father is that findings often vary depending on the method used. For example, Grossman et al. (2002) conducted a longitudinal study and suggested that fathers, as secondary attachment figures, have an important and distinct role in their child’s development, particularly through play and stimulation.
• However, if fathers truly have a unique role, we would expect children from single-mother or lesbian-parent families to show different developmental outcomes compared to those from two-parent heterosexual families. McCallum and Golombok (2004) found that children from single-mother or lesbian-parent families do not develop differently from those in two-parent heterosexual families. This suggests that the question of whether fathers have a distinctive role in attachment remains unresolved, as the findings depend on the research method used and the specific focus of the study.
• One strength of research into the role of the father is that it shows fathers in intimate marriages can form secure attachments with their children. Belsky et al. (2009) found that males who reported higher levels of marital intimacy were more likely to form secure father-infant attachments, while those with lower levels of marital intimacy had more insecure attachments. This suggests that fathers can indeed form strong, secure attachments with their children, but the quality of this attachment is influenced by the father’s relationship with the mother.
• This research is valuable as it educates parents on the importance of creating a secure and loving home environment, as a positive relationship between parents can have a fundamental impact on the child’s development and attachment security.
• However, high levels of marital intimacy alone are not sufficient for a father to form a secure attachment with their child; he also needs to be a “good parent.” Verissimo et al. (2011) found a significant positive correlation between the quality of the father-child relationship and the number of friends their child had at preschool. This suggests that for children’s social skills to fully develop, the quality of the father’s involvement and relationship with the child is crucial, beyond just marital intimacy with the mother.
• This highlights that while marital intimacy can influence attachment, active and high-quality parenting is necessary for the child’s broader social development.