Attachment- Schaffer's stages of attachment Flashcards
Stages of attachment -
Many developmental theories identify a sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages. In stages of attachment some characteristics of the infants’s behaviour towards others change as the infant gets older.
Multiple attachments -
Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments once they have formed one true attachment to a main carer.
What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study?
The aim was to investigate the formation of early attachments, including the age at which they developed, their emotional intensity, and to whom they were directed.
How many babies were involved in Schaffer and Emerson’s study, and what were their demographics?
The study involved 60 babies (31 male, 29 female) from Glasgow, with the majority coming from skilled working-class families.
How were the babies and their mothers observed in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
The babies and their mothers were visited at home every month for the first year and again at 18 months. Mothers were asked about their babies’ protest behaviors in seven everyday separations to measure separation anxiety and stranger anxiety.
What did Schaffer and Emerson find about specific attachment between 25 and 32 weeks of age?
Between 25 and 32 weeks, about 50% of the babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the mother, indicating specific attachment.
What did Schaffer and Emerson find about the caregiver to whom attachment tended to form?
Attachment tended to form with the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions, not necessarily the person the infant spent the most time with.
What are the four stages of attachment proposed by Schaffer and Emerson?
The four stages are:
Stage 1 - Asocial stage (first few weeks) Stage 2 - Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
Stage 3 - Specific attachment (around 7 months)
Stage 4 - Multiple attachments (shortly after specific attachment).
By what age did 80% of the babies show specific attachment, and what percentage displayed multiple attachments?
By 40 weeks, 80% of the babies had a specific attachment, and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.
What characterizes the asocial stage (Stage 1) of attachment?
In the asocial stage, babies recognize and form bonds with carers but show similar behavior towards nonhuman objects and humans. They show some preference for familiar adults and are happier in the presence of other humans.
What characterizes the indiscriminate attachment stage (Stage 2)?
From 2-7 months, babies show a preference for people over inanimate objects and prefer familiar adults. They accept comfort from any adult and do not usually show separation or stranger anxiety, making their attachment behavior indiscriminate.
What characterizes the specific attachment stage (Stage 3)?
From around 7 months, babies display anxiety towards strangers and when separated from one particular adult (the primary attachment figure, often the biological mother). This marks the formation of a specific attachment.
What characterizes the multiple attachments stage (Stage 4)?
Shortly after forming a specific attachment, babies extend attachment behavior to other adults they regularly spend time with, forming secondary attachments. By one year, most infants have multiple attachments.
What is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson’s study in terms of external validity?
The study has good external validity because it was conducted in families’ homes, with most observations done by parents during ordinary activities, ensuring natural behavior.
What is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson’s study in terms of its design?
The study used a longitudinal design, observing the same children regularly, which reduces the confounding variable of individual differences and increases internal validity.
What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson’s study regarding sample characteristics?
The sample was limited to families from the same district, social class, and city over 50 years ago, which may not generalize well to other social, cultural, or historical contexts.
What is a problem with studying the asocial stage (Stage 1)?
Babies in the asocial stage have poor coordination and limited mobility, making it difficult to judge their social behavior based on observations.
What is conflicting evidence regarding multiple attachments?
Some research suggests babies form a single primary attachment before multiple attachments, while others, particularly in collectivist cultures, suggest babies form multiple attachments from the outset.
What is a problem with how multiple attachment is assessed in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
Distress when an individual leaves the room may not always signify attachment, as babies may also get distressed when playmates leave, making it hard to distinguish between secondary attachment figures and playmates.
What is a criticism of Schaffer and Emerson’s use of behavioral measures of attachment?
Some critics argue that using simple behaviors like stranger anxiety and separation anxiety as measures of attachment is too crude and may not fully capture the complexity of attachment.
To what extent is it a strength or limitation that Schaffer and Emerson used simple behavioral measures of attachment?
This is a consideration for debate, as simple measures allow for scientific study but may oversimplify the concept of attachment.
