the role of the father

• Attachment to fathers

  Babies first become attached to their mother around 7 months
• Attachment to fathers

  • 3% of cases the father was the first sole subject of attachment
  • 17% of cases the father was the joint first object of attachment with the mother
  • 75% of babies studied formed an attachment with the father by 18 months
• Distinctive role for fathers

  • More to do with play and stimulation than emotional development
  • Fathers have the potential to be more emotion-focused primary attachment figures but perhaps can only express this when in the role of primary caregiver
• Grossman et al (2002) carried out a longitudinal study where baby's attachments were studied until they were into their teens.

  Quality of baby's attachment with mother was related to attachments in adolescence, attachments to fathers are less important
• Field (1938) filmed 1 month old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, father, and secondary caregiver fathers.

  Smiling, mirroring, holding babies are all part of reciprocity and synchrony which are part of the process of attachment formation
• Confusion over research question

  It's tricky to define the father's role in attachment due to differing views on whether they serve as primary or secondary figures, leading to confusion in their role.
• Conflicting evidence

  Research on fathers' roles varies. Grossmann et al. suggest fathers are crucial, but children develop similarly in single-mother and lesbian-parent families, questioning fathers' distinctiveness.
• Counterpoint

  Fathers in two-parent families often have unique roles, but single-mother and lesbian-parent families adapt to fill these roles, showing families can adapt without fathers.
• Real world application

  Research on fathers' roles reassures parents. It shows fathers can be primary caregivers and that single-mother and lesbian-parent families aren't disadvantaged. This reduces parental anxiety.