Attachment - Schaffer's stages of attachment

Question 1

What are multiple attachments?

Answer 1

Attachments to 2 or more people

Question 2

When does research suggest babies can form multiple attachments?

Answer 2

Once they have formed a specific attachment to their main caregiver (after 1 month)

Question 3

Outline procedure of Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Answer 3

Naturalistic observation (longitudinal research) using 60 infants from working-class families in Glasgow (5-23 weeks)

• Observed every month until they were 1 year old
• Observed again at 18 months
• Each visit, mother reported intensity of infant’s separation protest in 7 everyday situations (on 4 point scale and to whom it was directed)
• Stranger anxiety measured by response to interviewer

Question 4

Outline the findings of Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Answer 4

• Within 1 month of first becoming attached, 29% of infants had multiple attachments
• Within 6 months, this had risen to 78%
• Most maintained 1 primary attachment figure
• Primary attachment figure not always one who fed and bathed (39% attached to someone else)

Question 5

What was the conclusion of Schaffer and Emerson (1964)?

Answer 5

• Responsiveness appeared to be the key to attachment
• Reported little relationship between time spent together and attachment
• Infants can create multiple attachments once a primary attachment has been established

Question 6

Name, age and outline of stage 1:

Answer 6

N - Asocial
A - 0-2 months
O - Infants have similar responses to all objects (animate or inanimate)
Towards end of period, they begin to show preference for people

Question 7

Name, age and outline of stage 2:

Answer 7

N - Indiscriminate attachments
A - 2-7 months
O - They start to prefer human company and can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people
Although relatively easily comforted by anyone - don’t show stranger anxiety
Sociable and enjoy being around people

Question 8

Name, age and outline of stage 3:

Answer 8

N - Specific attachments
A - 7-12 months
O - Most begin to form a special attachment to one person (primary attachment figure)
Start to demonstrate separation/stranger anxiety and joy at reunion - most comforted by that person. 65% of time it was mother, 27% joint attachment to mother and father

Question 9

Name, age and outline of stage 4:

Answer 9

N - Multiple attachments
A - By 12+ months
O - Within 1 month of being attached, 29% had multiple attachments to someone else (secondary attachments). Rose to 78% within 6 months
Within 1 year, majority developed at least 5 multiple attachments

Question 10

Pneumonic to help remember the stages?

Answer 10

A - All
I - Infants
S - Smile
(@)
M - Mum