Role of the father

• What does Bowlby say about the father?

  We have one primary attachment figure and it’s usually the mother
• What do researchers say the role of the father is?

  A playmate
• What are mothers traditionally?

  Sensitive and responsive
• What are the factors affecting father-child relationships?

  • Sensitive responsiveness
  • Type of attachment with own parents
  • Marital intimacy
  • Supportive co-parenting
• How does sensitive responsiveness affect father-child relationships?

  More sensitive to child’s needs = more secure attachment
• What is some research supporting sensitive responsiveness?

  • Hray - fathers are less able to detect infant distress, so they are less suitable to be prime attachment figures
  • Lamb - fathers can develop sensitive responsiveness, it is not biologically limited
• How does the fathers attachment with his own parents affect his relationship with his child?

  The attachment will be similar to that of his parents
• What is some research supporting generational attachment?

  Bernier and Mitijkovich- single father’s attachments with their 4-6 year old children were similar to that with their own parents. No such effects were found in married fathers, so continuity of attachments occurs more when fathers are the main caregiver
• How does marital intimacy affect father-child relationships?

  Degree of intimacy with partner influences the type of attachment with the child
• How does supportive co-parenting affect father-child relationships?

  Amount of support given to a partner affects the type of attachment with child
• What is some research into supportive co-parenting?

  Brown et al - secure attachment types have good co-parenting
• What is a strength of father-child relationships?

  Secure attachment with father = better peer relationships, less behavioural issues
• What is a weakness of father-child relationships?

  No father = do worse at school. Quite determinist