The Role of the Father

• Attachment to Fathers:

  Available evidence suggests that fathers are much less likely to become babies' PAF compared to mothers. Schaffer and Emerson found most babies became attached to their mothers at 7 months, in only 3% of cases was the father the PAF alongside the mother. However, it appears that fathers do go onto being important attachment figures, their research showed that 75% of babies formed an attachment to their fathers by 18 months; showing protest when he walked away.
• Distinctive Role for Fathers:

  Whether father's attachment holds value in children's development, and if it has a different developmental role from the mother? Grossman et al completed a longitudinal study where babies attachments were studied until they were teens. Looking at both parents' behaviour and its relationship to their child's later attachments. Quality of babies attachment to mothers was related to attachments in adolescence; however, fathers play was related to the quality of adolescence attachment. Concluding their role is play and stimulation, rather than emotional support.
• Fathers as PAFs:

  The initial attachment has special emotional significance- forming the basis of all later emotional relationships. Field filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with PAF mothers / fathers, and SAF mothers / fathers. In both variations, the PAF mother and father spend more time smiling, imitating and holding hands than SAFs. Linking to reciprocity and IS, all part of attachment formation and quality (Isabella et al). Fathers then have the potential to be emotion focused PAFs, providing the required responsiveness- but perhaps only when given the role of PAF.
• AO3: Confusion over Research Question

  A limitation is the lack of clarity over what is being asked in 'What is the role of the Father?', this is highly complex. Some researchers have attempted to answer this by looking the father as the SAF, and others concerned with the father being the PAF. Previously research was more alpha bias in seeing fathers as having a distinct role; but now it is argued that men can take on the 'maternal' role. This then makes it difficult to establish the 'role of the father' as it depends which role is discussed.
• AO3: Conflicting Evidence

  Findings vary based on the methodology used; longitudinal studies have found that fathers as a SAF have an important and distinct role. Though if this is true, then we would expect that children growing up in single mother and lesbian parent households would develop differently to those in heterosexual households. Studies by McCallum and Golombok consistently show that children don't develop differently, meaning that it is still unclear if fathers have a distinctive role.
• AO3: Counterpoint to Conflicting Evidence

  The research may not conflict- it could just be that fathers take on distinct roles in heterosexual families, but single mothers and lesbian parent families may just adapt to accommodate to roles played by the father. Meaning the question is answerable: when present, fathers tend to adopt the distinctive role, but families can adapt to not having a father.
• AO3: Real-World Application

  Findings can be used to offer advise for parents, prospective parents may agonise over who should take the PAF role- some claim the decision made them query having children at all. Mothers may feel pressure to stay at home due to traditional gender roles. Fathers may feel pressure to be the breadwinner- but in some families this isn't the most economically stable decision. This research can then be reassuring, reducing parental anxiety.
• AO3: Bias within Research

  Preconceptions about how fathers should behave can be created by stereotypical parenting roles and behaviour. Like those used in advertising. These stereotypes may cause unconscious observer bias, acting as a confounding variable, the observers 'see' what they expect to see rather than recording objective reality.
• AO3: Issues and Debates

  Practical Application- caused changes in paternity leave, it has been increased and more normalised to demonstrate that it isn't the automatic role of the mother. It has allowed for men to gain more equality in the custody of their children.

  Nature Vs Nurture- Grossman argues that males have a distinct role; is this due to them lacking oestrogen, or have they not been socialised to take this caring role?