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

Question 11

What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study? - Results may have been affected by social desirability bias

Answer 11

===> When mothers interviewed, some may not have reported accurate details to appear ‘better’ mothers with secure attachments. Social desirability bias would reduce validity of findings as natural behaviour wouldn’t have been recorded. However, always methodological issues when collecting data on infants as researchers are limited to observations and self-reports

Question 12

What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study? - Results lack population validity

Answer 12

===> Sample consisted of only 60 working class Glaswegian mothers and infants - may form very different attachments compared to other populations like middle class or suburban families. May be specific issues associated with social deprivation and city living (poverty, stress and poorer mental health) may mean results are specific to lower socio-economic groups. Can’t confidently generalise results to other populations

Question 13

What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study? - Poor research evidence for asocial stage

Answer 13

===> Assumed babies aren’t sociable and can’t distinguish between humans and non-humans from observed behaviours. Babies too young to ask, don’t have mobility skills to demonstrate through non-verbal communication - may prefer humans but can’t portray this. Evidence is limited for this stage, reducing validity of theory

Question 14

What is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study? - Useful practical applications

Answer 14

===> If baby in childcare setting, worth considering in asocial and indiscriminate stage, babies can be comforted by any skilled adult. If child starts nursery at older age, such as in the specific stage, they would benefit from a specific worker as they may get distressed with an unfamiliar adult. Findings have practical value in real world and can help with childcare decisions