Lesson 2: Stages of Attachment

Question 1

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Answer 1

Investigated the development of attachment in infants using a longitudinal study where they followed 60 infants and their mothers for two years. They decided that there were four stages in the development of attachment in infants.

Question 2

Pre-attachment

Answer 2

• 0-3 months
• infants become attracted to other humans, preferring them to objects and events
• demonstrated by smiling at peoples faces

Question 3

Indiscriminate attachment

Answer 3

• 4-7 months
• become more social
• begin to recognise and prefer adults-no preference to one adult so usually accept comfort and hugs from any adult
• do not show SP and SA

Question 4

Discriminate attachment

Answer 4

• 7/8 months
• specific attachment to primary attachment figure developed (usually mother)
• separation protest and stranger anxiety displayed
• schaffer and emerson- noticed primary figure was based on quality of relationship more than quantity of time spent together

Question 5

Multiple attachments

Answer 5

9 months onwards
Develop secondary attachments very soon after developing strong emotional ties with other major caregivers. The fear of strangers weakens but their attachment to their primary attachment figure remains strongest.

Question 6

Evaluation of the stages of attachment

Answer 6

(-)Data collected by Schaffer and Emerson may be unreliable because it was based on mother’s reports of their infants. Some mothers may have been less sensitive to their infants protests and therefore been less likely to report them.

(-)Biased sample as it only included infants from a working-class population and thus findings may not apply to other social groups. Also only included infant from individualistic cultures and not collectivist cultures, who could form attachments differently.

(-)Lacks temporal validity as it was done in the 1960s- nature of caregiving has changed e.g. more women work. Also societal changes.