Schaffer and Emerson found that the majority of babies became attached to their mothers first and in only 3% of cases the father was the first sole object of attachment
Attachment with the father in the long term
Grossman (2002) - research found that the quality of the attachment with the father was less important for the teen than the quality of attachment with the mother
Fathers’ play is more important
Bowlby - a father is more likely to engage in physically active and novel play than the mother and tends to become his child's preferred play companion
Limitation (role of father)
Fathers may not have distinct roles – there is evidence that suggests that when fathers do take on the role of being the main caregiver they adopt behaviours more typical of mothers
