Attachment: The development of attachment

Question 1

Define multiple attachments

Answer 1

having more than one attachment figure

Question 2

What is a primary attachment?

Answer 2

the person that has formed the closest bond with a child, demonstrated by the intensity of the relationship, usually a child’s biological mother but other people can fulfil this role e.g. grandparents

Question 3

What is separation anxiety?

Answer 3

the distress shown by an infant when separated from his/ her caregiver not necessarily the primary caregiver

Question 4

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 4

distress shown by an infant when approached or picked up by someone who is unfamiliar

Question 5

Who investigated the development of attachment?

Answer 5

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Question 6

What was the aim of Schaffer + Emerson’s study?

Answer 6

to investigate the different stages of attachment.

Question 7

What was the procedure of Schaffer and Emerson’s Study?

Answer 7

Longitudinal study, 60 babies predominantly working – class from Glasgow. Beginning of study infants were aged between 5 – 23 weeks of age + were studied until they were 1.
Mothers were visited every 4 weeks.
At each visit, the mother reported their infant’s response to separation in 7 everyday situations (e.g., being left alone in a room or left with other people).
The mother was then asked to describe the intensity of any protest (e.g., meltdown or simple whimper) which was rated on a 4-point scale. The mother was also asked who the protest was directed at. Stranger anxiety was also measured by assessing the infant’s response to the interviewer at each visit.

Question 8

What were the findings of Schaffer + Emerson’s research?

Answer 8

25- 32 weeks 50% babies showed signs separation anxiety towards a particular adult (usually the mother).

Attachment tended to be with the caregiver who was most interactive + sensitive to the infants’ signals + facial expressions (reciprocity) - wasn’t necessarily the person who spent the most time with the infant.

By 40 weeks the babies had a specific attachment + almost 30% showed signs of multiple attachment.

Question 9

What was the conclusion of Schaffer + Emerson’s study?

Answer 9

Attachment develops in stages which led to the development of the Stages of Attachment.

Question 10

What are the 4 AO3 points for Schaffer + Emerson’s study?

Answer 10

-Research is unreliable
-Biased sample
-Temporal validity
+Good external validity

Question 11

(-AO3) Why was Schaffer and Emerson’s research unreliable?

Answer 11

Based on mother’s reports so some may interpret behaviours differently + also issues with social desirability + systematic bias

Question 12

(-AO3) How did Schaffer and Emerson’s study have a biased sample?

Answer 12

Sample were working class + came from Glasglow so therefore, findings may not apply to a wider population and other social groups which reduces the impact that the study could have.

Question 13

(-AO3) Why did Schaffer and Emerson’s study lack temporal validity?

Answer 13

Study took place in the 1960s + gender roles of mothers have changed e.g. more mothers go to work sooner after giving birth or more fathers have stayed at home to look after their children. Therefore, findings may not be applicable to today’s society.

Question 14

(+AO3) How does Schaffer and Emerson’s study have good external validity?

Answer 14

The study was carried out in the family’s homes, and most of the observation was actually done by parents during ordinary day-to-day activities. This means that the behaviour of the babies was unlikely to be affected by the presence of observers.
There is an excellent chance that the participants behaved naturally whilst being observed.

Question 15

What was concluded from Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 15

4 stages of attachment

Question 16

What are the 4 stages of attachment and what are their time frames?

Answer 16

Indiscriminate stage 0-2 months
The beginnings of attachment 2-6 months
Discriminate attachment 7+ months
Multiple attachments 10/11 months+

Question 17

Describe the key processes of the indiscriminate attachment stage.

Answer 17

Similar response to all objects. Interactional synchrony and reciprocity.

Question 18

Describe key processes in beginnings of attachment stage.

Answer 18

A
Prefer human company. Stranger anxiety. More social.

Question 19

Describe key processes in indiscriminate attachment stage.

Answer 19

Similar response to all objects. Interactional synchrony and reciprocity.

Question 20

Describe key processes in beginnings of attachment stage.

Answer 20

Prefer human company. Stranger anxiety. More social.

Question 21

Describe key processes in discriminate attachment stage.

Answer 21

Separation anxiety. Joy in reunion. Develop primary attachment figure.

Question 22

Describe key processes in multiple attachments stage.

Answer 22

Multiple attachments - more than 1 attachment figure

Question 23

Describe key processes in beginnings of attachment stage.

Answer 23

A
Prefer human company. Stranger anxiety. More social.

Question 24

Why are fathers less likely to be primary attachment figures?

Answer 24

-They aren’t as psychologically equipped to form attachments + have a typically have a lack of emotional sensitivity
-Women have the hormone, oestrogen which biologically makes them more caring (drives maternal instinct)
-Men at typically less sensitive to infant cues
-Women breastfeed (provide food + comfort which is necessary for survival)
-Men can be the primary caregiver but biological + social factors discourage it e.g. men typically work while the mothers on -maternity leave.

Question 25

Why are fathers more likely to have the role of secondary attachment?

Answer 25

Tend to be more physically active, playful + are generally better at providing their child with more challenging situations. A lack of sensitivity from fathers also fosters problem-solving by mimicking greater communicative + cognitive demands.

Question 26

Who investigated the role of the father?

Answer 26

Grossman (2002)

Question 27

What was the procedure of Grossman’s study?

Answer 27

Longitudinal study of 44 families comparing the role of mothers’ and fathers’ contribution to their children’s attachment experiences at 6, 10 + 16 years.

Question 28

What were the findings of Grossman’s study?

Answer 28

Fathers’ play style (whether sensitive, challenging + interactive) was closely linked to the fathers’ own internal working model of attachment + that play sensitivity was a better predictor of a child’s own long-term sense of attachment representation than the early measures of the attachment type that the infant had with their father.