Harry Harlow’s and Mary Ainsworth’s studies on infant attachment, why mothers are more often studied than fathers?

Harry Harlow’s studies and Mary Ainsworth’s gave us much information on how we should raise young children. According to their research, a parent or caregiver is responsible for attending to the child’s needs and engaging in warm and affectionate interactions to establish the child’s sense of basic trust. They imply that the emotional availability and responsiveness of the parent to the child is crucial in generating a secure attachment that helps the child see the world as predictable and sensitive, and therefore go into the world less fearfully, repressed, or anxious. Harlow’s research emphasized the importance of emotional communication via touch, which aids brain development and cognitive performance. Ainsworth’s research emphasized the mother’s behavior toward her infant, and how this behavior could create securely or insecurely attached children, depending on how sensitive and responsive was the mother with the child.

Researchers have studied mother care much more often than father care. I believe mothers are studied more frequently because they have been given the role of the primary caregiver to an infant. Perhaps this has happened because of evolutionary reasons, as mothers are responsible for birthing, feeding, and preparing the child to go out into the world. Perhaps because of cultural values. However, as the connection between the mother and the child is very important, so is the connection between the father and the child. I believe the presence of a father is very important because it creates a stable and even more supportive environment for the cognitive development of the child. Also, studies have demonstrated that girls with present and actively involved fathers engage in less risky sexual activity, boys end up less incarcerated, and children often have better cognitive development and tend to have better life outcomes.