Attachment: Schaffer’s Stages Of Attachment

Question 1

What are the 4 stages identified by Schaffer?

Answer 1

• Asocial
• Indiscriminate
• Specific
• Multiple

Question 2

What is the asocial stage

Answer 2

• (0-6 weeks)
• Similar responses to objects & people.
• Preference for eyes/face

Question 3

What is indiscriminate attachments?

Answer 3

• (6 weeks - 6 months)
• Preference for human company.
• Ability to distinguish between people but comforted indiscriminately.

Question 4

What is specific stage?

Answer 4

• (7 months+)
• Infants show preference for one caregiver, display seperation and stranger anxiety.
• Baby looks to particular people for security, comfort and protection.

Question 5

What is multiple stage?

Answer 5

• (10/11 months+)

- Attachment behaviours are displayed towards several different people e.g. siblings, grandparents etc.

Question 6

What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson study?

Answer 6

To investigate the development of early attachment, mainly the age of development, emotional intensity and who its directed to.

Question 7

What was the method of Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 7

Observed 60 Glaswegian babies for 18 months, mostly from skilled working class families. Parents asked to observe their children.

Question 8

What is an example of circumstances in Schaffer and Emerson study?

Answer 8

Left alone in room with a stranger. Lead to stranger anxiety.

Question 9

What are the results of Shaffer and Emerson study?

Answer 9

25-30 weeks: 50% of the babies showed seperation anxiety mainly towards mother.
At 40 weeks: nearly 30% formed multiple attachments.
6 months: 78% had multiple attachments.

Question 10

What is a brief summary of details on the study of attachment in Glasgow?

Answer 10

• Observation, 60 infants, Age: 5 weeks - 23 weeks
• Observed every 4 weeks until 1.
• Observed at 18 months.

Question 11

What are advantages and disadvantages of S&E study?

Answer 11

+High external validity: Babies won’t be affected by presence of observer.

• Low population/cultural validity: Only focus on Glasgow working class babies.
• Low temporal validity: conducted over 50 years ago.

Question 12

What is conflicting evidence on multiple attachments?

Answer 12

Bowlby (1969)
Van Ijzendoorn (1993) showed some babies devlop mulitiple attachments from the outset