Attachment- Stages Of Attachment Flashcards
What happens at the asocial stage of attachment?
First stage.
0-2 months.
Recognising and forming bonds with carers, behaviour towards non human and human is similar.
Show some preference.
What happens at the indiscriminate stage of attachment?
Second stage.
2-7 months.
Display more observable social behaviour. Will still accept affection from any adult, no stranger/separation anxiety yet.
What happens at the specific stage of attachment?
Third stage.
From 7 months.
Separation and stranger anxiety begun. Attached to primary attachment figure. This is whoever offers most interaction/responds to baby’s signals with most skill.
What happens at the secondary/ multiple stage of attachment?
Fourth stage.
Approx 10 months- 1yr+
Formed after primary attachment.
By age 1 multiple attachments have formed.
What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson’s separation/stranger anxiety study?
To measure attachment by assessing separation and stranger anxiety.
What was the method and findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s separation/stranger anxiety study?
Identified 4 stages from their findings.
Longitudinal study- studied until 1yr and then again at 18 months, observations and interviews used.
Found separation anxiety at 25-32 weeks- specific stage
Found multiple attachments formed at around 10 months- multiple stage
What is a strength +however of stages of attachment?
Schaffer and Emerson’s study
However data could be unreliable- self report. Could be social desirability bias as parenting is sensitive. Low internal validity.
What are two weaknesses of stages of attachment?
Past 25 years fathers staying at home has quadrupled.
Much more involved, so as a result multiple attachment stage could occur a lot earlier than suggested.
Low temporal validity.
Small sample.
Only working class and from Glasgow.
Low population validity.
