Attachment : Stages

Question 1

Multiple attachments

Answer 1

attachments to two or more people. Research shows most babies form multiple attachments after forming a specific attachment to their main caregiver (in mast cases - Mum)

Question 2

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) : attachment study - procedure

Answer 2

Naturalistic observation, longitudinal research in Glasgow.
60 infants from working class familes, aged 5-23 weeks observed every 4 weeks until 1 y.o, then observed again at 18 months. At each visit, mother self-reported infants separation protest in 7 day situations (eg. being left alone in a room, being left w other people). Mum rated intensity of protest on a 4 point scale and identify to whom the protest was directed. Stranger anxiety measured by assessing infant’s response to the interviewer at each visit.

Question 3

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) : attachment study - findings

Answer 3

within 1 month of first becoming attached, 29% of infants had multiple attachments. Within 6 months it rose to
78%. Most infants maintained one principle object of attachment. The primary attachment was not always who fed and bathed them → 39% had someone else.

Question 4

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) : attachment study - Conclusion

Answer 4

Responsiveness appeared to be the key attachment

Question 5

Strong attachments have…

Answer 5

intensely attached infants had mothers who responded quickly to their demands and interacted with their child (weakly attached infants had mothers who failed to react). Schaffer and Emerson reported there’s little relationship between the time spent together and attachment. Infants can form multiple attachments one the primary attachment has been formed.

Question 6

Stages of attachment - stage one

Answer 6

Asocial
- 0-2 months
- infants produce similar responses to all objects, whether they are in/animate
- towards the end of this period, infants begin to show a greater preference for social stimuli, such as a smiling face and are more content with people
- during this period, reciprocity and interactional synchrony play a role in establishing the infants relationship w others

Question 7

Stages of attachment - stage two

Answer 7

Indiscriminate attachments - sociability
- about 4 months
- prefer human company to inanimate objects and can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people. However, they’re still relatively easily comforted by anyone and do not yet show anxiety with strangers.

Question 8

Stages of attachment - stage three

Answer 8

• 7 months
• show a distinctive protest when one person puts them down (separation anxiety), and shows special joy at reunion with that person and are most comforted bu that person → they have formed their specific attachment. Their primary attachment figure and stranger anxiety is formed

Question 9

Stages of attachment - stage four

Answer 9

• soon after the primary attachment multiple attachments are formed based on consistent relationships in their social circle.
• Schaffer + Emerson found within 1 month of being attached, 29% of infants had multiple attachments (secondary attachments)

Question 10

Schaffer and Emersons study of attachment - disadvantages

Answer 10

• affected by social desirability bias → Schaffer + Emerson interviewed the mothers abt their children and may not have answered truthfully in order to appear better than other mothers, with more secure attacments. This biases the data which reduces validity since natural behaviour wont have been recorded. There are always methodical issues when collecting selfreports
- Lacks population validity → sample was only 60 working class mothers in Glasgow. Attachments waud differ based on class, culture, religion, etc. Eg: there may be specific issues associated with social deprivation (poverty, mental health). Additionally, the sample size is small so we must generalise the results with caution/ not
- Poor evidence for asocial sage → babies at this stage have poor physical development and are fairly immobile with poor coordination. Meaning, when they make random movements observers may be attributing meaning and intention behind them when there may not be: lacks construct validity

Question 11

Schaffer and Emersons study of attachment - advantages

Answer 11

• useful practical application → Eg: if a baby is in childare in early stages (1, 2) babies can be comforted by any skilled adult. However if a child starts day care they would benefit from a key worker as may get distressed with an unfamiliar adult. Therefore the findings have practical value and help with childcare decisions for parents ana day care settings