schaffer and emerson

Question 1

What was S and E’s experiment method

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson observed 60, Glaswegian babies for 18 months mostly from skilled working class families

Question 2

What are the results of S and E’s experiment?

Answer 2

• Between 25 - 32 weeks - 50% of the babies showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the biological mothers
• Attachment tended to be to the caregiver that was most sensitive to the infants signals and facial expresions (reciprocity) - the primary attachment figure
• At 40 weeks - nearly 30% had formed multiple attachment had been formed). These were desribed as secondary attachments 80% had formed a specific attachment

Question 3

Describe stage 1 - the asocial/pre-attachment phase

Answer 3

• First few weeks
• Infant is forming bonds with and recognises carers
• Behaviour is similar towards human and non human objects
• Babies are happier in the presence of other familiar humans

Question 4

Describe stage 2 - indiscriminate/diffuse phase

Answer 4

• From 2-7 months - displaying observable social behaviours
• Preference for people rather than inanimate objects
• Babies accept cuddles and comfort from any adult, and do not usually show separation or stranger anxiety

Question 5

Describe stage 3 - discriminate/single phase (specific attachment)

Answer 5

• Around 7 months - majority of babies start to show anxiety towards strangers or when they are separated from one particular adult (65% biological mother)
• Adult is primary attachment figure but is not necessarily the person they spend the most time with, but the one who offers the most interaction

Question 6

Describe stage 4 - multiple attachments

Answer 6

• Secondary attachment to people babies spend a lot of time with
• Normally occurs before one year

Question 7

Give some positive evaluation to do with good external validity

Answer 7

• The study conducted in participants’ own homes and most of the observations were done by the parents during normal activities
• Behaviour of babies was not effected by researchers
• Babies behaved naturally

Question 8

Give some positive evaluation to do with logitudinal design

Answer 8

• Same children were observed over a period of time
• Cross-sectional design: differnt children at different ages
• LD - better internal validity as they do not have confounding variables of individuals differences between participants

Question 9

Give some negetaive evaluation to do with limited simple characteristics

Answer 9

• Research is limited due to participants being from the same twon, same social class and over 50 years ago
• Child rearing practices vary from culture and historical events

Question 10

Give some negative evaluation to do with issues with studying the asocial age

Answer 10

Firstly, it is very diffifcult to gather any meaningful data from infants at this age as they’re immobile and have little coordination
Secondly, evidence has shown that infants ARE social at this age e.g. Melzoff and Moore - ability to imitate at 2 weeks

Question 11

Give some confliciting evidence for multiple attachments

Answer 11

Some psychologists (Bowlby) agree with the assumption that an attachment with a single caregiver (primary attachment figure) needs to come before developing multiple attachment

Question 12

Give some negative evaluation about measuring multiple attachment

Answer 12

Bowlby (1969) pointed out that children have playmates as well as attachment figures and may get distressed when a playmate leaves the rooms, which does not signify attachment