Chapter 3.2 - Schaffer's stages of attachment

Question 1

What is meant by stages of attachment?

Answer 1

A sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages

Question 2

What is meant by multiple attachments?

Answer 2

Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments once they have formed one strong attachment to one of their carers

Question 3

What are the four stages of attachment?

Answer 3

1) Asocial, 0-8 weeks
2) Indiscriminate attachment, 2-7 months
3) Specific attachment, 7-12 months
4) Multiple attachments, 1 year onward

Question 4

Describe what happens in the asocial stage of attachment in babies

Answer 4

• Its observable behaviour towards humans and inanimate objects is fairly similar
• At this stage the baby is forming bonds with certain people and these form the basis of later attachments

Question 5

Describe what happens in the indiscriminate attachment stage of attachment in babies

Answer 5

• Show a clear preference for being with other humans rather than inanimate objects
• Recognise and prefer the company of familiar people
• Accept cuddles and comfort from any person
• Do not show separation anxiety or stranger anxiety

Question 6

Describe what happens in the specific attachment stage of attachment in babies

Answer 6

• Signs of attachment towards one particular person : stranger anxiety and separation anxiety
• Formed a specific attachment to their primary attachment figure, offers the most interaction and responds to the baby’s signals with the most skill

Question 7

Describe what happens in the multiple attachment stage of attachment in babies

Answer 7

• Attachment behaviour towards one person extends to multiple attachments with other people with whom they regularly spend time with, secondary attachments

Question 8

Describe the procedure of Schaffer and Emerson’s research (1964)

Answer 8

• 60 babies, 31 boys and 29 girls
• All from Glasgow and skilled working-class families
• Researchers visited their homes every month for the first year and again at 18 months
• Questions about the kind of protest their babies showed in everyday separations were asked
• Designed to measure the babies’ attachment and assessed stranger anxiety

Question 9

Describe the findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s research

Answer 9

• Identified four distinct stages in the development of infant attachment behaviour

Question 10

What is an advantage of Schaffer and Emerson’s research? (good external validity)

Answer 10

• Using parents to record observations rather than researchers reduces confounding variables that may affect the babies behaviours e.g. distraction or anxiety
• Natural behaviour whilst being observed

Question 11

What is the counterpoint of Schaffer and Emerson’s research? (good external validity)

Answer 11

• Mothers were asked to be observers, less likely to be objective
• Biased in what they noticed and reported, forgot or not noticed
• Even if babies behaved naturally their behaviour may not have been accurately recorded

Question 12

What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson’s research? (poor evidence for the asocial stage + lack of validity)

Answer 12

• If the babies felt anxiety they may have displayed in subtle and hard to observe ways, immobile and poor coordination -> difficult to report
• The babies may actually be quite social but appear to be asocial due to flawed methods

Question 13

What is an advantage of Schaffer and Emerson’s research? (real-world application)

Answer 13

• Practical application in day care
• Parents’ use of day care can be planned using Schaffer and Emerson’s stages

Question 14

What is another evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson’s research? (generalisability)

Answer 14

• Large-scale study, 60 babies
• Sample had the cultural and historical context of 1960s working-class Glasgow
• In other cultures, multiple attachments are established from a very early age - collectivist cultures