attachment

Question 1

What are schaffers stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Stage 1: Asocial
behaviour towards non human & humans similar, calmer towards humans

Stage 2: Indiscriminate
2-7 month, preference, recognise familiar, accept cuddles, no anxiety

Stage 3: Specific, 7 months, anxiety towards strangers + separation, have primary attachment figure

Stage 4: Multiple, by age 1
once formed one, can form multiple

Question 2

What is Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 2

investigate formation of early attachments

60 babies, WC, Glasgow, visited every month for 1st year then at 18 months, mothers asked questions about protests in 7 everyday separations (e.g leaving the room) assessing anxiety

Question 3

Findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 3

25-32 weeks, 50% showed separation anxiety, attachment was with caregiver who was most interactive (reciprocity)

40 weeks, 80% specific attachments, 30% multiple

Question 4

Evaluate Schaffer and Emerson’s research :

Answer 4

Good external validity, carried out in own homes, natural setting, babies behaviour unlikely to be affected

Longitudinal design, good internal validity, followed up + observed regularly, no confounding variable of individual differences (participant variables)

Limited sample characteristics, families all from same area and class, 50 years ago (lack temporal validity) practices vary between cultures. Cannot be generalised to all

Question 5

Evaluate the stages of attachment:

Answer 5

Problems studying asocial stage
difficult to make judgements of behaviour, poor coordination, may not be social behaviours.

Conflicting evidence, some research states a specific attachment occurs before multiple (ijzendoorn) in other cultures multiple caregivers are the norm (collectivist)

Measuring multiple, just because they get distressed, doesn’t mean true attachment figure. (Bowlby) get distressed when playmate leaves, doesn’t signify attachment

Question 6

What is the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 6

Learning in the acquisition of behaviour including classical and operant conditioning.

Dollar and Miller, ‘cupboard love’ importance of caregiver who provides food

Question 7

What is classical conditioning, learning theory