role of the father

• 3 main roles of father:

  • not equipped to form attachments because of oestrogen in women and men
  • fathers take on playful role
  • fathers can show sensitiveness and responsiveness to child and can form strong attachments
• analysis:

  • evidence that males are not biologically equipped to form attachments
  • fathers have more of a play role
  • fathers can be sensitive
• males not biologically equipped:

  • hardy fathers less able to detect low level of infant distress
  • result support biological explanations of lower levels of oestrogen in mean = less biologically equipped
  • this suggests further that fathers cannot provide nuturing attachment because they can't detect stress in children - determinism
• fathers play interactions are more exciting compared to mothers but mothers play is more affectionate and nuturing
• role of father in indeed playmate and not sensitive caregiver responding to needs of child
• father being sensitive and responding and form attachment:

  • Belsky et al = fathers form secure attachment when intimate marriage
  • males with higher levels of marital intimacy displayed secure attachments with child whereas lower levels of marital intimacy showed insecure attachment
  • suggests male can form secure attachments with children however strength of attachment depends on the relationship with father and more