1 - Stages of Attachment Flashcards
Define developmental psychology
Branch of psychological concerned with the progressive behavioural changes that occur in individuals across their lifespan.
Define attachment
An emotional bond between two people.
How did Shaffer and Emerson investigate attachment?
Used a longitudinal study where they followed 60 infants for two years.
What are the four stages of attachment ( according to shaffer and emerson)?
Pre - attachment
Indiscriminate attachment
Discriminate attachment
Multiple attachments
Describe pre - attachment
0-3 months
From 6 weeks of age, infants become attracted to other humans, preferring them to objects and events. This is demonstrated by smiling at faces.
Describe indiscriminate attachments
3-7 months
Infants begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people, smiling more at people they know. They will still allow strangers to handle them.
Describe discriminate attachment
7 months +
Infants develop a specific attachment to their primary attachment figure, staying close to that person. They show separation protest when they leave, and reunion joy when they come back and are easily comforted by them. They also start to show reunion joy.
What was ( one of ) the conclusion from their investigation?
They noticed the infants primary attachment did not always spend the most time with them. Attachments were strongest with mothers who reacted quickly and correctly to the infants signals. Poorly attached infants has mothers who failed to interact with them.
It is the quality of the relationship, not quantity that matters the most in the formation of an attachment.
Describe multiple attachments
7 months +
After developing their first attachment, infants develop secondary attachments to caregivers such as grandparents and non caregivers such as siblings. They can show separation anxiety here .
Fear of strangers weakens.
Within one month of becoming attached, 29% of infants had multiple attachments, this had risen to 78% six months later.
Evaluate shaffer and emersons stages of attachment
Data collected may be unreliable because it was based on mothers reports of their infants. Some mothers might have been less sensitive to their infants protests and therefore been less likely to report them.
The sample was biased - only included infants from a working - class population and thus the findings might not apply to other social groups.
The sample was biased - only included infants from individuals cultures, infants from collectivist cultured could form attachment in a different way.
Th study was conducted in the 1960s and parental care of children has changed considerably since then. More women go out to work and more men stay at home.
It is not clear from this research whether multiple attachments are all equivalent or whether the first attachment retains special significance.
Stage theories such as this one are inflexible, some infants might form multiple attachments first, rather than starting with a single attachment.
What did Shaffer and Emerson discover about the role of the father?
Fathers were less likely to be the primary attachment figure than mothers. This may be because :
- they spend less time with them
- men are not psychologically equipped as they lack emotional sensitivity. Th female hormone oestrogen underlie caring behaviour so women are more orientated to interpersonal goals than men.
- in some cultures, there is the stereotype that it is feminine to be sensitive to others needs.
Fathers play an important role in secondary attachment figures : they are more playful, physically active and generally better at providing challenging situations.
