Role of the father

• Hrdy found that fathers were less able to detect high levels of infant distress, compared with mothers.

  
  

  These results appear to support the biological explanation that the lack of oestrogen in men means fathers simply aren't able to form close attachments.

  
  

  This suggests that the father's role is to some extent biologically determined.
• However, Frodi et al observed no differences in the physiological reactions of men and women when exposed to videos of infants crying.

  
  

  This research refutes the notion that men are incapable of forming an attachment due to their biological makeup.
• Bowlby goes as far to suggest that fathers can fill a role closely resembling that usually filled by a mother - but in most cultures this is uncommon.

  
  

  The role of the father tends to be different - but he argues this doesn't mean it's any less significant. The father is more likely to engage in physically active and novel play than the mother and tends to come the child's preferred play companion.
• White and Woollet propose that the lack of sensitivity actually plays a positive role in development - fostering problem solving, greater communicative and cognitive demands in children.
• A03 Field - P

  Field analysed face-to-face interactions from video footage of infants at 4 months of age. He found that fathers engaged in more game playing and held their infants less.

  
  

  However, primary caretaker fathers engaged in significantly more smiling, initiative grimaces, and imitative vocalisations than secondary caretaker fathers.

  - these were comparable with mothers' behaviour.
• Recent research suggests both parents are equally capable of providing emotional support to the child.

  
  

  This also has economic implications, as it promotes more flexible working arrangements in the family. This means that modern parents better equipped to maximise income and contribute more effectively to economy.
• Recently there has been a rise in stay at home fathers.

  
  

  Economic implications - raised paternity leave affects employers who need to provide pay in this time.