The role of the father

• Bowlby believed that children have one primary attachment figure, usually the mother, though he conceded that this could be the father in some cases. Similarly, Schaffer and Emerson showed that the primary attachment figure is much more likely to be with the mother than the father, fathers are secondary attachment figures
• Why do most infants make their first attachment with their mother?

  The main reason is paternal involvement = the amount of time that fathers spend interacting with, being accessible to, or being directly involved in the daily care of their children.
• Cultural factors

  • In many parts of the world (e.g. southern Africa and Asia), men work several hundreds of miles away from their homes in order to provide an income for their families
  • Many others have to work long hours
  • Under such circumstances, hands-on involvement with children is impossible
• Increase in men's domestic involvement

  Result of shifting labour force patterns - increase of the female labour force and increasing opportunities that allow both mothers and fathers to be active as parents and employees
• Shifting labour force patterns

  Facilitate an attachment to be formed between father and infant
• Economic factor?

  In the UK, until recently fathers were not given any paternal leave so the responsibility for child care was implicitly given to the mothers. This could change the attachment the children make with their fathers.
• Social policies?

  Until recently, men expected to be breadwinners and not have direct involvement in children's care. However, might be a very stereotypical view rather than reflect any reality as fathers might not have been directly involved in the day to day care but they were involved in factors link play, instruction and guidance.
• Biological factors?

  women are naturally able to feed the infant and produce the nurturing hormone oestrogen which may explain the difference
• Traditionally fathers have played a minor role as caregiver due to these factors, however society is changing - need to examine the role of the father today
• There is disagreement amongst psychologists over the exact role of the father

  1. many researchers see men as less equipped to form attachments biologically and socially
  2. others argue that fathers play a different role - more of a 'playmate' than 'caregiver'
  3. However, some argue that fathers can demonstrate sensitive responsiveness
• Several important factors could affect the relationship between fathers and children:

  1. degree of sensitivity
  2. type of attachment with own parents
  3. marital intimacy
  4. supportive co-parenting
• Degree of sensitivity?

  more secure attachments to their children are found in fathers who show more sensitivity to children's needs
• Type of attachment with own parents?

  single-parent fathers tend to form similar attachments with their children that they had with their own parents
• Marital intimacy?

  the degree of intimacy a father has within his relationship with his partner affects the type of attachment he will have with his children
• supportive co -parenting ?

  the amount of support a father gives to his partner in helping to care for children affects the type of attachment he will have with his children