Attachment Lesson 3: The Role of the Father

Introduction to the Role of the Father

• Definition: In attachment research, a father is anyone who takes on the role of the main male caregiver, not necessarily the biological father.
• Research Gaps: Historically neglected in favor of mother-infant relationship studies.
• Key Questions:
  • Do babies attach to their fathers, and if so, when?
  • Do fathers have a distinctive role in attachment?
  • Can fathers be primary caregivers?

Research Studies

1. Do Babies Attach to Their Fathers?

• Study: Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
  • Findings:
    • Infants first attach to their mothers around 7 months.
    • Secondary attachment to fathers forms soon after.
    • By 18 months, 75% of babies had formed an attachment to their father.
  • Conclusion: Babies do form secondary attachments to fathers.

2. Do Fathers Have a Distinctive Role?

• Study: Grossman et al. (2002)
  • Study Type: Longitudinal
  • Findings:
    • Mother's attachment quality linked to adolescent attachment quality.
    • Father's play quality linked to adolescent attachment, indicating a role focused on play and stimulation rather than nurturing.

3. Can Fathers Be Primary Caregivers?

• Study: Field et al. (1978)
  • Observations: Compared interactions of infants with primary caregiver mothers, primary caregiver fathers, and secondary caregiver fathers.
  • Findings:
    • Primary caregiver fathers exhibited behaviors similar to mothers, e.g., holding, smiling, imitating.
    • Showed that fathers can adopt nurturing roles, indicating that responsiveness, not gender, is key.

Evaluation

Limitations

• Research Question Confusion:
  • Lack of clarity leads to varied findings.
  • Diverse research focuses complicate defining the father's role.
• Conflicting Evidence:
  • Grossman’s study suggests fathers as secondary figures with distinct roles.
  • McCallum and Golombok (2004) found no negative effects in single-mother/lesbian-parent families, questioning the uniqueness of the father's role.

Real-World Application

• Parental Advice:
  • Research helps relieve anxiety about parental roles.
  • Highlights fathers' capability as primary caregivers.
  • Reassures that absence of a father doesn’t negatively impact child development.

Structuring a Six-Mark Essay Outline

• Introduction:
  • Overview of research questions about the father's role.
• Key Studies:
  • Grossman et al.: Fathers' unique role in play and stimulation.
  • Field et al.: Fathers' capability as primary caregivers.
• Conclusion:
  • Fathers can be nurturing; role depends on responsiveness, not gender.

Conclusion

• The lecture provides valuable insights into the role of fathers in attachment.
• Ends with encouragement to use research to support parental decisions and alleviate concerns.

• Note: For more detailed understanding, refer back to the studies discussed.