Role of the father

• Grossman - quality of father attachment was less important for teenager attachment type than the quality of the mothers
• Verissimo - better quality of father toddler relationship the more friends the child has at preschool
• Field - filmed 4 month old babies and found that fathers can be primary caregivers and they were seen to adapt behaviours of mothers
• Schaffer and emerson - study 75% infants formed secondary attachment with their fathers evident through separation anxiety
• fathers are playmates
• geiger

  • showed that fathers play interactions are more exciting and pleasurable than mothers
  • while mothers are more nurturing and affectionate
  • which supports the idea of fathers being playmates rather than caregivers
• lamb

  • found out that children often preferred interacting with fathers when in a positive emotional state, thus seeking stimulation
  • unlike mothers who are preferred when the child is distressed and seeking comfort
  • this supports the idea of fathers being preferred as playmates but only in certain conditions