Role of the father

• Some researchers claim men are not equipped to form an attachment
• biological evidence - hormone oestrogen underlies caring behaviour, lack of oestrogen in men - unable to form attachments
• Grossman - playmate instead of caregiver
• Tiffany Field - that fathers can demonstrate sensitive responsiveness and react to needs of children forming an emotional bond
• AO3 - supporting evidence for playmate - Geiger. Found fathers play interactions are more exciting but mothers more affectionate and nurturing
• AO3 - research that fathers can be caregiver if an intimate marriage. Belsky et al found males who reported higher levels of marital intimacy also displayed an attachment
• AO3 - research socially sensitive, abnormalities blamed on parents, mothers feel guilty going to work and single parents pressured