ATTACHMENT FIGURES

ATTACHMENT FIGURES

1. PARENT-INFANT ATTACHMENT

   • Research suggests infants form attachments with mothers earlier than with fathers
   • SCHAFFER AND EMERSON (1964) found babies attached to their mothers at around 7 months & within a few weeks or months formed secondary attachments to other family members - including the father

2. ROLE OF THE FATHER

   • Some people suggest fathers role = less important than mothers in determining adolescent attachment. Some people argue men may not be biologically suitable to be carers
     • Society = changing - more mothers = working - more single-parent families = fathers.
       • Some research shows when father takes on role of main caregiver they adopt behaviours more typical of mothers
   • IMPORTANT STAGES AFFECTING FATHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
     • Degree of sensitivity: more sensitive fathers = secure attachments
       • Attachment with their parents: similar attachments with their children as their parents
         • Marital intimacy: intimacy with partner affects attachment with children
           • Supporting co-parenting: support father gives to partner in caring for child affects attachment with children

3. EVALUATION

   • GROSSMAN (2002) carried out longitudinal study looking at parents behaviour & its relationship to the quality of childrens attachment to adolescence. However - quality of fathers play = related to quality of adolescent attachments - suggesting fathers play different role in attachment to mothers
     • (-ve) Researchers may have expectation that fathers will take on certain roles & do not take on caring roles, this could be bias to findings. May be stereotypes in society regarding role of fathers. This reduces validity
       • (-ve) If fathers have distinct role in attachment - then does not explain how children without fathers do not develop differently from those in two-parent families. Suggests fathers role as secondary attachment = not important