Attachment - Schaffer's Stages Of Atttachment Flashcards
What are Schaffer’s stages of attachment?
Schaffer and Emerson identified four stages of attachment development:
Stage 1: Asocial stage (first few weeks) – Babies show similar behavior toward humans and inanimate objects. They do show a preference for familiar adults.
Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment (2–7 months) – Babies show more observable social behavior and a preference for people. They accept comfort from any adult and don’t usually show separation or stranger anxiety.
Stage 3: Specific attachment (from around 7 months) – Babies start to display separation and stranger anxiety. They become attached to one specific adult (primary attachment figure) who responds most sensitively to their needs.
Stage 4: Multiple attachments (shortly after) – Babies form secondary attachments with other familiar adults they spend time with, e.g., fathers, grandparents, etc.
What did Schaffer and Emerson study, and what were their findings?
Schaffer and Emerson studied 60 babies from Glasgow, observing attachment behaviors:
Method: The babies were visited monthly for the first year and again at 18 months. Researchers assessed separation anxiety (protest at being left alone) and stranger anxiety (response to unfamiliar adults).
Findings: 50% of babies showed specific attachment by 25–32 weeks of age. By 40 weeks, 80% had specific attachments, and 30% displayed multiple attachments.
What are the key terms related to Schaffer’s stages?
Stages of attachment: Developmental theories that identify qualitatively different behaviors linked to attachment.
Multiple attachments: Attachments to two or more people, which most babies develop once they have formed a true attachment to their main caregiver.
What is one evaluation point about external validity?
Schaffer and Emerson’s study had good external validity. The study was carried out in the families’ own homes, and observations were made by parents during ordinary activities rather than researchers. This means babies were unlikely to be affected by observer bias, as they behaved naturally. This suggests the findings accurately reflect real-life attachment behavior, making them highly applicable to attachment theory.
What is one evaluation point about the study’s design?
The study was longitudinal, improving internal validity.
The same children were followed up over time rather than observing different children at each age (a cross-sectional design).
This eliminates individual differences as a confounding variable, enhancing reliability. The longitudinal design supports attachment theory by providing consistent, robust findings.
What is one evaluation point about sample characteristics?
The sample may limit generalizability to wider populations. The study involved 60 working-class families from Glasgow, conducted 50 years ago. Child-rearing practices vary across time and culture, so the findings may not apply to modern or collectivist societies. This limitation suggests caution when applying the stages universally to explain attachment development.
What is one evaluation point about multiple attachments?
There is conflicting evidence on multiple attachments.Some psychologists argue that babies form multiple attachments from the outset in collectivist cultures (van IJzendoorn et al. 1993).This challenges the idea that specific attachment must precede secondary attachments.These findings suggest that attachment theory must account for cultural differences in attachment behavior.
