Supporting research

• Schaffer & Emerson (1964)

  Investigated attachment to parents within babies by observing whether an infant protested when their father walked away (sign of attachment)

  They found the majority of babies did become attached to their mother first and within a few weeks/ months formed secondary attachments to other family members including their father

  By 18 months, 75% of infants had formed an attachment with their father
• Field (1978)

  Field found that fathers who were primary caregivers to their child spent more time smiling and holding their babies than secondary caregiver fathers. This suggests that they can take a role of a primary caregiver if they spent more time with them.

  Gender isn't key, but rather the level of responsiveness
• Grossman (2002)

  Grossman carried out a longitudinal study where he studied babies attachments until they were in their teens. He found quality of infants attachment with mothers was related to children's attachments in adolescence, suggesting the father's attachment was less important. However, quality of fathers' play with infants related to the quality of adolescent attachments, suggesting that fathers have a different role in attachment - to do with play and stimulation, not so much nurturing