Attachment stages Flashcards
1
Q
Asocial stage
A
- responds to social and non-social stimuli in the same way
- some preference for specific caregivers
- generally happier in the presence of other humans
2
Q
Age of the asocial stage
A
0-1.5 months
3
Q
Age of the indiscriminate stage
A
1.5 - 6 months
4
Q
Indiscriminate stage
A
- attracted to humans rather than inanimate objects
- no preference for a specific caregiver
- usually no separation or stranger anxiety
- attachment behaviours are simply emitted rather than being directed at specific people
5
Q
Age of the specific stage
A
7-12 months
6
Q
Specific stage
A
- clear preference for one person
- an emotional bond, company is actively sought out
- separation anxiety
- coincides with the development of memory
7
Q
Age of the multiple attachment stage
A
12+ months
8
Q
Multiple attachment stage
A
- equal attachments with more than one person
- secondary attachments formed
- attachments in a hierarchy
- mothers preferred in times of distress, fathers preferred as playmates
9
Q
Schaffer and Emerson’s longitudinal attachment study
A
10
Q
Evaluation of schaffer and emerson’s attachment stages
A
- difficult to study the asocial stage as when children are so young, behaviour is more ambiguous
+ good external validity as research was done in families’ own homes - Relies on self - report method - not necessarily accurate
- limited sample characteristics - 60 babies in the 60s, so difficult to generalise to other social and historical contexts
+ longitudinal study means no individual diffs as children were followed and observed regularly so good internal validity - conflicting evidence for multiple attachments - it is unclear when multiple attachments are formed. some research suggests that a single attachment is needed first while collectivist perspective says that it can happen straight away.
- problems measuring multiple attachments - distress is not necessarily sep anxiety - may just be unhappy when playmates leave
