Role of the farther

• In western cultures fathers are encouraged to play a bigger role in raising children. This means mothers have been working full time significantly more as compared to 40 years ago.
• Mothers usually have a more nurturing role in child raising while the fathers adopt the role of a "play mate", encouraging risk-taking behaviours when playing.

  Infants, when in distress, prefer contact with the mother but when in a positive emotional state they usually prefer the farther.
• It's possible men are not psychologically equipped to form an intense attachment because they lack the emotional sensitivity women offer that comes from oestrogen that is underlying in caring behaviours.

  On the other hand, it was found that when fathers adopt the main caregiver role, they show behaviours typically resembling that of a mother.

  ->Suggests the key to attachment is responsiveness, not the gender of the parent.
• Economic implications

  Research that shows fathers can be equally effective caregivers has economic value. If they are seen as capable primary attachments that adopt a more nurturing role then it supports shared parental leave policies, allowing mothers to return to work sooner.

  
  

  This increases family income and contributes to the economy by keeping skilled workers (like women) in the workforce.
• Strength) Real-world application

  Research into the role of the father can be used to offer advice to parents as it shows that fathers are capable of becoming primary attachment figures. Also, lesbian households can be informed that not having a father around does not affect a child's development.

  
  

  Limitation) Research into the role of the father produced inconsistent findings. Some studies suggest fathers play a distinct role focused on play and stimulation (Grossman). However, other studies show that they can be a primary caregiver and adopt nurturing behaviours. Suggests the the role depends more on responsibility rather then gender.