KEY STUDY: Schaffer & Emerson - Stage theory & development of attachment Flashcards
What was the aim of this study?
An investigation into the development of infant attachment.
What was the procedure?
longitudinal study of 60 babies drawn from working class glasgow.
infants ranged from 5-23 weeks of age at the start.
studied until age of 1 year.
mothers visited every 4 weeks.
each visit mother reported infants response to separation in 7 situations.
mother asked to describe the intensity of any protest which was rated on a 4 point scale.
mother was asked to describe the intensity of any protest.
stranger anxiety was also measured by assessing infants response to the interviewer at each visit.
Name the 4 stages of attachment
Indescriminate attachment, befinnings of attachment, discriminate attachment and multiple attachment.
What age does the indiscriminate stage occur?
birth- 2 months
What age does the beginnings of attachment stage occur?
2-4 months
What age does the discriminate stage occur?
4-7 months
What age does the multipule attachment stage occur?
7-9 months and onwards
What is the indiscriminate stage?
Infants will have similar responses to all objects and show a greater preference for people towards 2 months Reciprocity and interactional synchrony play a part in developing relationships.
What is invloved in the beginnings or attachment stage?
Infant seeks attention from a number of different individuals and are generally content when they recieve attention from them. dont yet show stranger anxiety.
What is involved in the descriminate attachment phase?
infant typically develops a strong attachment to one individual. shows separation anxiety and stranger anxiety. good attachments to others often follow shortly after.
what is involved in the multipule attachment stage ?
infant forms strong emotional ties with other caregivers and non caregivers such as sinlings and grandparents = secondary attachments
