Role of the father - evaluation

• A limitation of the research into the role of the father is its inconsistent findings on fathers. Research into the role of fathers in attachment is confusing because different researchers are interested in different research questions. Findings suggest that fathers behave differently from mothers and have a distinct role, whereas the latter found fathers can take on a 'maternal' role. This is a problem because it means psychologists cannot easily answer a simple question the layperson often asks: what is the role of the father?
• Another weakness of the role of fathers in attachment is that children Without fathers aren't different to those with fathers. Studies have found that children growing up in single/same - sex parent families do not develop any differently from those in two parent heterosexual families. This is a weakness as it suggests that the father's role as a secondary attachment figure isn't important.
• Another weakness of the role of fathers in attachment is that most research has focused on mother-infant interactions as the primary attachment. Most studies have focused on mother-infant interactions as it is usually the mother who takes on the role of primary caregiver in western societies. Psychologists debate this could be because of traditional gender roles within society, female hormones (e.g. oestrogen) meaning mothers are naturally more nurturing - biologically conditioned to take on the role, fathers take on the role of a 'playmate' rather than a nurturing role.