Role of the Father

• fathers are more playful, physically active and generally better at providing challenging situations for their children
• Geiger (1996)

  a father is an exciting playmate whereas a mother is more conventional and does "calmer" activities
• White and Wooilett (1992)

  the lack of sensitivity from fathers can be positive because it fosters problem solving by making greater communication and cognitive demands on children
• a reason for not being primary caregiver is that men aren't psychologically equipped to form an attachment and lack the emotional sensitivity women offer
• men can be less sensitive to cues than mothers
• mothers normally stay home more often
• when dads are the primary attachment figure it is in a single parent family and same sex couples
• we have adopted the idea that fathers are not the primary attachment figure because of societal norms (mothers are more caring, fathers go to work)