the role of the father

• Schaffer and Emerson found fathers were more likely to be a joint first attachment figure (27%) than an infants first attachment (3%). this may be because father spend less time with their infants. however, studies have shown little relationship between father accessibility and attachment.
• other viewpoints may be that fathers lack the emotional sensitivity needed to form an intense attachment. biologically, the female hormone, oestrogen, underlies caring behaviour making women more orientated towards interpersonal goals than men.
• socially sex sterotypes may still affect male behaviour as being sensitive towards the needs of others may be seen as a feminine attribute
• field 1978- conducted research which compared the behaviours of primary caretaker mothers with primary and secondary caretaker fathers. face to face interactions were analysed from video footage with infants at 4 months. it was observed that secondary caretaker fathers engaged more in game playing and held their infants less. however, primary caretaker father engaged in more smiling which was comparable with mothers behaviours
• bowbly 1988 - reasoned that if patterns of attachment are a product of how their mother has treated them, it could be anticipated that the pattern they develop with father is the product of how their father has treated them. fathers can fill the role resembling the mother but points out in most cultures this is uncommon. fathers are more likely to engage in physically active play and are usually the childs preferred play companian
• brown 2012 - investigated father involvement, paternal sensitivity and father child attachment security at 13 months and 3 years. the results demonstrated that involvement and sensitivity influenced father child attachment security at age 3. involvement was a great predicitor of secure attachment when fathers were rated as less senstive. this research indicates that the gender of a caregiver is not crucial but rather attachment quality
• there is research that provides support for the role of the father as a playmate rather than a primary caregiver. Geiger found that a fathers play interactions were more exciting in comparison to a mothers. however, the mothers play interactions were more affectionate and nurturing. this suggests that the role of the father is in fact as a playmate and not as a senstive parent who responds to the needs of their children. these results also confirm that the mother takes on a nurturing role
• research suggests that fathers are not equipped as mothers to provide a sensitive and nurturing attachment. Hrdy found that fathers were less able to detect low levels of infant distress in comparison to mothers. these results appear to support the biological explanation that the lack of oestrogen in men means that fathers are not equipped innately to form close attachments. this suggests that the role of the father is biologically determined. this provides evidence that fathers are not able to provide a senstive attachment
• research suggests that fathers can form secure attachments with their childrn if they are in a intimate marriage. Belsky et al found that males who reported higher levels of maritial intimacy displayed a secure father infant attachment whereas males with lower levels of maritial intimacy displayed insecure father infant attachments. this suggests that males can form secure attachments with their children but the strength of the attachment depends on the father and mothers relationship