Attachment - Schaffer’s stages Flashcards
Explain the first stage of Schaffer’s stages
Asocial (0-2 months) - Recognising and forming bonds with caregivers however behaviour towards humans and inanimate objects are similar, only shows a preference of company
Explain the second stage of Schaffer’s stages
Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months) - Clear preference for humans, still accepts comfort from any person and does not usually show separation or stranger anxiety
Explain the third stage of Schaffer’s stages
Specific attachment (7 months) - Baby starts to display classic signs of attachment towards a primary caregiver, specific attachment is not always who they spend the most time with. Anxiety directed towards strangers
Explain the final stage of Schaffer’s stages
Multiple attachments (7m - 1year+) - Shortly after showing attachment behaviours to one person they usually extend this to multiple others
Emerson found that 29% of secondary attachments form within a month of the primary attachment
Explain Schaffer and Emersons study (1964)
Studied 50 infants from working class homes in Glasgow aged 5-23 weeks. Longitudinal - They were studied until the age of 1 and visited again at 18 months. Observations and interviews were used and attachment behaviours studied
What were Schaffer and Emerson’s findings?
Most infants started to show separation anxiety from their attachment figure at around 25-32 weeks supporting the specific attachment stage.
Most babies formed secondary attachments at 10 months old
Evaluate Schaffer’s stages
✅ Supporting evidence - Schaffer and Emerson’s study
❌ However some of the data collected may be unreliable as it was a self report study, some mothers may be concerned of what the interviewers would think of them due to social desirability bias
❌ Research shows that the number of fathers who choose to stay home and care for children has quadrupled in the past 25 years. As a result fathers are much more involved and the multiple attachments stag may occur earlier than suggested
