Attachment - Schaffer & Emerson stages of attachment

Question 1

What is Schaffer & Emerson stages of attachment?

Answer 1

That attachment forms in four stages:
1) Asocial stage (0-6 weeks)
2) Indiscriminate attachment (2 months - 7 months)
3) Specific attachment ( 7-9 months)
4) Multiple attachment ( 9 - 10+ months)

Question 2

What is the asocial stage?

Answer 2

It occurs from 0-6 week of a baby being born, where
the baby displays innate behaviours (crying/smiling) that ensure proximity to ANY potential caregivers
Also they display these behaviours to inanimate objects as well as humans

Question 3

What is the indiscriminate attachment stage?

Answer 3

From 2 - 7 months where, babies show more observable social behaviour.
The show a preference towards people rather than inanimate objects , and recognise and prefer familiar adults
However their attachment behaviour is indiscriminate as they show no difference towards one person

Question 4

What is the specific attachment stage?

Answer 4

From around 7 months
The baby develops a specific attachment ( also known as primary caregiver)
Babies show stranger and separation anxiety from their primary caregiver (usually their mother)

Question 5

What is multiple attachment stage?

Answer 5

Shortly after the specific attachment stage,
Babies begin to extend their attachment behaviour to multiple attachments with other adults who they regularly spend time with
(ALSO known as secondary attachments)

Question 6

What was the aim Schaffer & Emerson key study?

Answer 6

Aim : To investigate the formation of early attachment in particular what age they developed, their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed to

Question 7

What was the method Schaffer & Emerson key study?

Answer 7

Method:
60 babies (31 males & 29 females)
All from Glasgow and majority from working class families
The babies & mother were visited at home every month for the first year than again after 18 months.
The researcher asked the mother questions about the kind of protest their babies showed in seven everyday separations
This was designed to measure the infants attachment
The researches also measured the babies stranger anxiety

Question 8

What was the findings of Schaffer & Emerson key study?

Answer 8

Findings:
Between 25-32 weeks 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards specific attachment
By 40 weeks 80% of babies had a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments

Question 9

What was the conclusion Schaffer & Emerson key study?

Answer 9

Conclusion:
That development occurs in stages

Question 10

Strength 1 Schaffer & Emerson : research support