Attachment: Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer

Question 1

Outline the study by SCHAFFER and EMERSON (1964)

Answer 1

A longitudinal study was completed in Scotland that followed the development of
attachments in 60 infants. Using naturalistic observations the infants were observed
every 4 weeks for up to 1 year and then observed once more at 18 months.
- Attachment was measured by assessing:

1) Levels of separation protest (how the infants reacted to being separated from
attachment figures)
This was measured by asking mother’s to describe the intensity of any protest when an infant was
left in 7 everyday situations (e.g. being left alone in a room, or with other people), which was then
rated on a 4 point scale.

2) Stranger anxiety (how infants reacted to strangers).
This was measured by assessing infants’ response to the interviewer at each visit.
- Half the children showed their first specific attachment between 6-8months, and this tended to be the mother. Fear of stranger began a month later for all children

Question 2

The results of Schaffer and Emerson’s study were:

Answer 2

• At 7 months, 29% of all children had already formed several attachments simultaneously, with 10% having 5 attachment figures. In fact by 10 mths, 50% had more than 1 attachment, and by 18 months that figure was 87%

-However, following the main attachment, it was noted most children did have subsequent attachments but not as strong

• 39% of the infants had a primary attachment with someone other than the person who usually fed, bathed and changed them

Question 3

What conclusions could you draw from Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 3

• most kids form single attachments very rapidly
• its a norm that kids will go on to develop multiple attachments with time

Question 4

Are there any methodological issues which could limit the usefulness of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 4

1. Generalisability- decent sample size but temporal valdity (1960s)–> have things changed? Ethnocentric, just in Scotland, what about collectivist cultures?
2. Internal validity compromised? Social desirability effects could limit usefulness of the study

Question 5

Shaffer and Emerson developed a stage theory of the development
of attachments. What are the 4 stages?

Answer 5

1. ASOCIAL STAGE/ PRE-ATTACHMENT
2. INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT STAGE
3. SPECIFIC ATTACHMENT STAGE
4. MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS

Question 6

Describe ASOCIAL STAGE/ PRE-ATTACHMENT stage

Answer 6

• 0-5 weeks
• infant produces similar responses to objects and people
• They show no preference for specific people but towards the end pf this stage they show a preference for social stimuli

Question 7

Describe INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT STAGE stage

Answer 7

• 2-7 months
• babies become more sociable, can tell people apart + prefer to be in human company
• They can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people, but are still relatively easily soothed
• do not show stranger anxiety

Question 8

Describe SPECIFIC ATTACHMENT STAGE stage

Answer 8

• 7-11 months
• begin to show separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
• strong attachment and preference for one individual
• subsequent attachments from 9 months

Question 9

Describe MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS stage

Answer 9

• approx 11 months onwards
• the baby now makes several attachments to important people in their life
• infants also display separation anxiety in these secondary attachments

Question 10

Evaluation of Schaffer’s stages of attachment: research form Schaffer

Answer 10

There is research to support the stages of attachment theory. Schaffer + Emerson’s 1964 study provides support for their stages of attachment.

They found that most of the 60 infants in the study formed specific attachments between 6-8 months

This supports their specific attachments stage
By the age of 18 mths, only 13% of infants had formed a single attachment = multiple stage
This implies that inititally kids form one major attachments and its the norm that multiple attachments are formed shortly afterwards

Question 11

Evaluation of Schaffer’s stages of attachment: lacks generalisability

Answer 11

However, there are methodological problems with Schaffer + Emerson’s study which is therefore a problem for the stages of attachment theory itself

Generalisability?
Only used 60 infants from Scotland -
Ethnocentrism - cannot generalise the findings to other countries as they may have differences in their child rearing practices

Therefore, the results are not representative of all infants around the world, reducing the usefulness of the theory as it may not be universal.

Question 12

Evaluation of Schaffer’s stages of attachment: practical applications

Answer 12

There are practical applications for the stages of attachment, as the stage theory can be practically applied to society and used as one measure of infant behaviour.
This could help in the early identification of abnormal development in infancy and early diagnosis could potentially lead to earlier intervention, thus benefiting children and families.
Therefore, this theory has had positive tangible effects by improving the monitoring of child development.

Question 13

Evaluation of Schaffer’s stages of attachment: culturally specific

Answer 13

This stage theory of attachment may also be considered culturally specific and limited to describing an individualist concept of the development of attachments.
The theory is based on research in an individualist culture where immediate family set-ups are the norm for caregiving. The development of attachment relationships in collectivist cultures, particularly those where group care is more common (e.g. kibbutzim) may not reflect these stages.
This suggests that Schaffer’s stages of attachment are not able to describe attachment in a UNIVERSAL way.