The role of the Father

• 'If fathers have a distinct role why aren't children without fathers different?' study support

  MacCallum and Golombok (2004):

  Found children growing up in single or same-sex parent families do not develop differently from those in two parent heterosexual families. These results would seem to suggest that the father's role as a secondary attachment figure is not important.
• Schaffer and Emerson findings

  • Majority of babies become attached to mother around 7 months
  • Only 3% of cases showed attachment to the father first.
  • In 27% of cases the father was the joint first object of attachment with mother
  • BUT most fathers do go on to become important attachment figure -> 75% of babies formed an attachment with their father by 18 months.
• Which study suggested that the role of the father more to do with play and stimulation?

  Grossman (2002) 

  • Longitudinal study of 44 families 'Compared the mothers' and fathers' role in the development of their children's attachment at 6, 10 and 16 years
• Findings Grossman (2002)


  Quality of infant attachment with mothers related to attachments in adolescence. But quality of father's play was related to attachments in adolescence
• Which study suggested that fathers can act as primary caregivers?

  Field (1978):

  Filmed 4-month old babies interactions with primary caregiver mothers and fathers and secondary caregiver fathers
• Findings & conclusion of Field (1978):

  • Primary caregiver fathers had more face-to-face interactions (like primary caregiver mothers) compared to secondary caregiver fathers.
  • Fathers do have the potential to provide responsiveness required for close emotional attachment but only express this when given the role of primary caregiver
• Main theories about the role of the father

  1. Dads lack sensitive responsiveness
  2. Dads play the role of a playmate
  3. Dads are just as caring and sensitive as mothers