3. role of father

• why may some people disagree that the father should not be the primary caregiver?

  - stereotypes = being too sensitive and caring are associated with femininity + in the past men weren't offered paternity leave so mothers responsibility to look after the baby

  
  

  - biological factors = women have higher levels of oestrogen which is associated with caring behaviours - males may therefore struggle with attachments and detecting infant distress (Hardy 1999) due to low levels of this hormone

  
  

  - fathers are playmates not caregivers - Geiger 1996
• Geiger 1996


  Found that interactions between father and child were more exciting as they focused on fun and playing

  
  

  whereas when the child was with their mother their interaction was affectionate, caring and nurturing
• why may some agree that fathers can be primary caregivers?

  - Field 1978 = sex is not the issue

  
  

  - Gordon et al 2010 = oxytocin and fathers
• Procedure of Fields 1978 study

  36 infants divided into 3 groups

  
  

  - 12 infants observed interacting with their primary care giver mothers

  
  

  - 12 infants observed interacting with their primary care giver fathers

  
  

  - 12 infants observed interacting with their secondary care giver fathers
• Results of Fields 1978 study

  Fathers engaged more in game playing and less holding of their infants

  
  

  smiling/imitating, high pitched vocalisations we're seen in primary caregiver mothers/fathers than secondary caregiver fathers suggesting that being a primary caregiver is not about gender or role but about the quality of the relationship that they have with their child
• Gordon et al 2010 procedure

  studied 80 couples in the first month after they had their first born child

  
  

  oxytocin levels were then measured in both parents after playing with their child for 10 minutes

  
  

  this was repeated after 6 months
• results of Gordon et al 2010 study

  fathers oxytocin levels matched the mothers suggesting if fathers engage with their parental role they can have nurturing behaviour