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Role of the Father - Coggle Diagram

- - - - research into role of fathers is lack of clarity over question asked
        
        question: 'what is the role of the father?' in context of attachment is much more complicated than it sounds
        
        some researchers want to understand the father as a secondary caregiver (tended to see fathers behaving differently to mothers & having a distinct role)
        
        others concerned with them as primary (founf fathers take on a maternal role)
        
        makes it difficult to offer simple answer to 'what is the role of the father?' as it depends on what specific role is being discussed
  - - - findings vary according to methodology used
        
        longitudinal studies (Grossmann et al) suggest that fathers as secondary attachment figures have an important & distinct role in a child's development (social devlopment)
        
        but if fathers have a distinctive & important role - expect that children growing up with only mother/lesbian mothers would turn out differently
        
        studies (McCallum & Golombok 2004) consistently show that these children do not develop differently from children in 2 parent heterosexual families
        
        means question as to whether fathers have a distinctive role remains unanswered
    - - lines of research may not in fact be in conflict
        
        fathers typically take on a distinctive role in 2 parent hetero families
        
        but parents in sing mother/lesbian families adopt to accommodate role played by fathers
        
        means question of distinct role for fathers is clear after all
        
        when present - fathers tend to adopt a distinctive role, but families can adapt to having no father
  - - - used to offer advice to parents
        
        parents sometimes agonise over decisions - who should be primary caregiver?
        
        can lead to worry over whether to have children at all
        
        mothers feel pressured to stay at home - stereotypical
        
        fathers pressured to focus on work - stereotypical
        
        some families - may not be economically best decision
        
        means parental anxiety over the role of the father can be reduced