Scahffer's stages of attachment

Question 1

multiple attachment

Answer 1

having more than one attachment figure

Question 2

primary attachment figure

Answer 2

the person who has developed the closest bond with the child, usually the biological mother, but others can fulfil the role.

Question 3

separation anxiety

Answer 3

Distress shown by an infant when separated from his/her carer

Question 4

stranger anxiety

Answer 4

Distress shown by an infant when approached or held by someone who is unfamiliar.

Question 5

Schaffer + Emerson (1964)

Answer 5

Studied 60 Glaswegian infants mainly from working class homes.
Beginning of study: infants aged 5-23 weeks old and were studied up until their 1st bday.
Mothers were visited every 4 weeks, during which they reported their infants response to separation in 7 everyday situations e.g. being left alone in a room or w/ other people.
Intensity of protest + who it was directed at was recorded.
Stranger anxiety was measured through the childs response to the interviewer.

Question 6

Stage 1- asocial: birth-2 months old

Answer 6

-Infants produced similar responses to inanimate + animate objects.
-Towards the end of this period, they begin to show greater preference for social stimuli + tend to be more content when with people.

Question 7

Stage 2- indiscriminate attachment: 4 months old

Answer 7

-Infants show general sociability, preferring human company over inanimate objects.
-Able to distinguish between familiar+ unfamiliar people.
-Do NOT show stranger anxiety, easily comforted by anyone.

Question 8

Stage 3- discriminate (specific) attachment: 7 months

Answer 8

-They show separation anxiety
-Show joy when reunited with that particular person + are most comforted by that person.
-Show stranger anxiety.
-Quality of relationship determines attachment formation: if the mother responds quickly + had the most interactions= infants were sensitively attached.
-Found 65% of the childrens first specific attachment = mother, 30%= joint attachment to mother + another person.

Question 9

Stage 4- multiple attachments

Answer 9

-Infant develops a wider circle of attachments.
-Found that within 1 month of being attached, 29% of infants had multiple attachments.
-Within 6 months this had risen to 78% and by the age of 1, most infants developed multiple attachments: 1/3 of infants forming 5+ secondary attachments.
-Showed separation anxiety in their secondary attachments e.g. fathers, grandparents etc.

Question 10

AO3 limitation

Answer 10

Schaffer’s stages suggest single attachments are gained before multiple attachments, HOWEVER, different cultures may result in different/multiple attachments developing.
Schaffer’s stage model may only apply to countries with an individualistic culture, such as the USA.
Sagi et al (1994) compared attachments in Kibbutz’s to ones in family based sleeping arrangements, + attachment to mothers was more common in family based sleeping arrangements.
Collectivist cultures multiple attachments may be more common

Question 11

AO3

Answer 11

Debate over importance of stage 3 of attachment.
Bowlby states moms give emotional care which is more likely to form primary attachments, whereas the father may only play with the infants.
However, Rutter (1995) argues all attachment figures are of equal importance, as they play a role in later development.
Research helps to identify typical age + stage of attachment.