attachment figures

Question 1

Inconsistent findings on fathers

Answer 1

P-Research into the role of the fathers in attachment is confusing because different researchers are interested in researching different questions
E-For example, some psychologists are interested in understanding the role fathers have as secondary attachment figures, while others are more concerned with having the father as the primary attachment figure
E-The former tend to see fathers behaving differently from mothers and having a distinct role, while the latter have tended to find that fathers can take on a ‘maternal’ role
L-This is a problem because it means psychologists cannot easily answer a simple question of ‘what is the role of the father?’

Question 2

If fathers have a distinct role why aren’t children without fathers different?

Answer 2

P-Grossman’s study found that fathers as secondary attachment figures had important roles in their child’s development
E-However, other studies such as MacCallum and Golombok have found that children growing up in single sex or same sex families do not develop any differently from those in two parent heterosexual families
L-This would seem to suggest that the father’s role as a secondary attachment figure is not important.

Question 3

Why don’t fathers generally become primary attachments?

Answer 3

P-The fact that fathers tend not to become the primary attachment figure could simply be the result of traditional gender roles
E-Women are expected to be more caring and nurturing than men, therefore fathers simply don’t feel they should act like that
E-On the other hand, it could be that female hormones create higher levels of nurturing
L-Therefore women are biologically disposed to be the primary attachment figure (Taylor et al)