Describe and evaluate research into the role of the father in attachment
(16marks).
Schaffer and Emerson observational study showed how babies form multiple attachments
around the age of 10-11 months. They found within the primary attachment for the majority
of the babies was to their mother (7 months). They found within a few weeks and months
secondary attachments were made. In 75% of the infants studied an attachment to their
father was formed at 18 months. At this point this was where the father’s role came into
play and in 27% of the cases the father was the joint first object of attachment with the
mother.
However, psychologist disagree over the exact role of the father. Some researcher claim
that men are simply not equipped to form an attachment. These psychologists suggest that
men are unable to form such attachments due to their biological difference and point to
biological evidence which suggest that hormone oestrogen causes caring behaviour in
women and the lack of oestrogen in men is why they are unbale to form close attachments.
Other researchers suggest that the fathers take on a playmate role rather than a caregiver
role. Finally, some researchers argue the father can be a primary caregiver as they adopt
behaviour more typical of mothers. For example, Field filmed 4-month babies and found the
primary care giver father, like mother, spent more time smiling, imitating and holding
infants hand. This suggest that fathers can be more nurturing it is not the gender which is
important but level of responsiveness to the child’s needs which can lead to the formation a
strong emotional bond or tie.
There is research evidence e that provides support for the role of the father as a ‘playmate.’
For example, research by Geiger found that father play interactions were more exciting in
comparison to mothers. However, the mother play interactions were more affectionate and
nurturing. Therefore, this suggests that the role of the father is in fact as a playmate and not
as a sensitive parent who responds to the needs of their children. These results also confirm
that the mother takes on more of a nurturing role.
There is further research that supports the role of the father. For example, Lucassen et al
performed a meta-analysis of studies involving observations and the strange situation
technique to find that high levels of sensitivity were associated with greater levels of infant
father attachment. This supports the idea that more secure attachment are found in
children whose fathers more sensitive to their needs and that the role of the father is
affected by their own childhood experiences.
A limitation of the role of the father in attachment is due to their biological differences they
cannot form the same attachment as women. For example, Hardy found that fathers were
less able to detect low levels of infant distress, in comparison to mothers. This suggest that
men may just not be simply equipped to form intense attachment, because they lack the
emotional sensitivity that women offer. This is a female oestrogen underlies to caring
behaviour in women and the lack of oestrogen in men suggests they are not equipped
biologically to form close attachment with their children. This suggests that the role of the
father is to some extent biologically determined and the father role is restricted because of
(16marks).
Schaffer and Emerson observational study showed how babies form multiple attachments
around the age of 10-11 months. They found within the primary attachment for the majority
of the babies was to their mother (7 months). They found within a few weeks and months
secondary attachments were made. In 75% of the infants studied an attachment to their
father was formed at 18 months. At this point this was where the father’s role came into
play and in 27% of the cases the father was the joint first object of attachment with the
mother.
However, psychologist disagree over the exact role of the father. Some researcher claim
that men are simply not equipped to form an attachment. These psychologists suggest that
men are unable to form such attachments due to their biological difference and point to
biological evidence which suggest that hormone oestrogen causes caring behaviour in
women and the lack of oestrogen in men is why they are unbale to form close attachments.
Other researchers suggest that the fathers take on a playmate role rather than a caregiver
role. Finally, some researchers argue the father can be a primary caregiver as they adopt
behaviour more typical of mothers. For example, Field filmed 4-month babies and found the
primary care giver father, like mother, spent more time smiling, imitating and holding
infants hand. This suggest that fathers can be more nurturing it is not the gender which is
important but level of responsiveness to the child’s needs which can lead to the formation a
strong emotional bond or tie.
There is research evidence e that provides support for the role of the father as a ‘playmate.’
For example, research by Geiger found that father play interactions were more exciting in
comparison to mothers. However, the mother play interactions were more affectionate and
nurturing. Therefore, this suggests that the role of the father is in fact as a playmate and not
as a sensitive parent who responds to the needs of their children. These results also confirm
that the mother takes on more of a nurturing role.
There is further research that supports the role of the father. For example, Lucassen et al
performed a meta-analysis of studies involving observations and the strange situation
technique to find that high levels of sensitivity were associated with greater levels of infant
father attachment. This supports the idea that more secure attachment are found in
children whose fathers more sensitive to their needs and that the role of the father is
affected by their own childhood experiences.
A limitation of the role of the father in attachment is due to their biological differences they
cannot form the same attachment as women. For example, Hardy found that fathers were
less able to detect low levels of infant distress, in comparison to mothers. This suggest that
men may just not be simply equipped to form intense attachment, because they lack the
emotional sensitivity that women offer. This is a female oestrogen underlies to caring
behaviour in women and the lack of oestrogen in men suggests they are not equipped
biologically to form close attachment with their children. This suggests that the role of the
father is to some extent biologically determined and the father role is restricted because of
