The Role of the Father 16 Marks
The role of the father in attachment has been increasingly studied in developmental
psychology, challenging earlier views that minimized the father's contribution. Schaffer and
Emerson (1964) found that while only 3% of infants had their primary attachment to their
father, a significant 75% had formed secondary attachments to their fathers by 18 months.
This suggests that fathers play a meaningful role in a child's emotional development, even if
they are not typically the primary attachment figure. For example Geiger suggested that
fathers are more likely to act as playmates, encouraging risk-taking and independence in
children…..
The role of the father in attachment has been increasingly studied in developmental
psychology, challenging earlier views that minimized the father's contribution. Schaffer and
Emerson (1964) found that while only 3% of infants had their primary attachment to their
father, a significant 75% had formed secondary attachments to their fathers by 18 months.
This suggests that fathers play a meaningful role in a child's emotional development, even if
they are not typically the primary attachment figure. For example Geiger suggested that
fathers are more likely to act as playmates, encouraging risk-taking and independence in
children…..
