Developmental: Stages Of Attachment

Question 1

What were Schaffers (1996) stages of attachment?

Answer 1

• Pre-attachment phase (0-3 months)
• Indiscriminate attachment (3-7/8 months)
• Discriminate attachment (7/8 months onwards)
• Multiple attachments (9+ months)

Question 2

What is the pre attachment phase?

Answer 2

Infants demonstrate a preference for human faces

Question 3

What is the indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 3

They begin to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people

Question 4

What is the discriminate attachment?

Answer 4

Develop specific attachments and become distressed when separated

Question 5

What are multiple attachments?

Answer 5

Emotional ties to more than one caregiver, e.g. grandparents.

Question 6

What was Schaffer and Emersons study on Glasgow babies?

Answer 6

Used 60 babies (31m & 29f), majority from working class families. Longitudinal study (every month for a year, then again at 18 months). Used interviews with mother and observations.
Assessed separation anxiety through infant being left alone in a room and strange anxiety with the researcher approaching the infant.
Found 25-32 weeks, 50% showed separation anxiety to caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive - not who spends the most time with them.
40 weeks, 80% had a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.
This suggests there is a pattern in attachment that is biologically controlled. Also made to whom is sensitive and responds appropriately.

Question 7

What’s the evaluation of Schaffer and Emersons study?

Answer 7

+ External validity - most observations made by parent, researchers may have distracted/made baby anxious.
- Social desirability - parents may be more attentive than normal. Demand characteristics, so lacks internal validity.