the role of the father

• Schaffer and Emerson research

  75% of the babies in the study of stages of attachment formed an attachment with the father by 18 months which was evident through separation anxiety
• distinctive roles for fathers - Grossmann (2002)

  carries out a longitudinal study where he studied babies attachment were studied until they were teens

  found that fathers have a different role to mothers as it is more to do with stimulation and play and less to do with emotional development
• fathers as primary attachment figures - Field (1978)

  primary caregiver fathers spent the time smiling and imitating more than secondary caregiver fathers which are all part of reciprocity and synchrony showing that fathers have the potential to be the primary caregiver if they provide responsiveness
• role of the father evaluation strengths

  real world application - showing that fathers can become the primary caregiver if they respond to the babies signals, this has positive implications on psychology and economy as in Fields research the primary caregiver is the father allowing mothers to go back to work sooner and takes pressure off them to nurse the baby longer
• role of the father evaluation limitations

  society biases may cloud judgement as stereotypes such as 'fathers are more playful' causes observer bias, there is confusion over research questions as the father doesn't have a distinct role and can take on the maternal role

  
  

  counter evidence for Grossmann - he states the fathers are more important in play and stimulation rather than nurturing, same sex couples child also grows up to be functional implies that the role of the father is not significant