Role of the Father

• Attachment to fathers 1/2

  Evidence suggests that fathers are much less likely to become babies first attachment figures compared to mothers. S&E found that the majority of babies first became attached to their mother at around 7 months. In only 3% of cases the father was the first sole object of attachment. In 27% of cases the father was the first joint object of attachment with the mother.
• Attachment to fathers 2/2

  However, most fathers go on to become important attachment figures. 75% of babies studied by S&E formed an attachment with their father by the age of 18 months. This was determined by the fact that the babies protested when the father walked away-separation anxiety.
• Distinctive role for fathers

  Grossman carried out a longitudinal study where babies attachments were studied until they were into their teens. The researchers looked at both parents behaviours and its relationship to the quality of their baby's later attachments to other people. Quality of a baby's attachment with mothers but not fathers was related to attachments in adolescence. This suggests that attachments to fathers is less important than attachment to mothers. However Grossman also found that the quality of fathers play with babies was related to the quality of adolescent attachments.
• Fathers as Primary Attachment Figures 1/2

  A baby's relationship with their parents forms the basis of all later emotional relationships. Some evidence suggests that when fathers take on a role of PAF they are able to adopt the emotional role move typically associated with mothers. Field filmed 4 month old babies in face-to-face interactions with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers. Primary caregiver mothers and fathers spent more time interacting with babies than fathers.
• Fathers as Primary Attachment Figures 1/2

  Smiling, imitating & holding babies is are all part of reciprocity and interactional synchrony which is part of the process of attachment formation (Isabella). Fathers can provide responsiveness required or closed emotional attachment.