Schaffer and Emerson

Question 1

who investigated attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson

Question 2

Aim of Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 2

to investigate the formation of early attachments, in particular the age at which they are developed, their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed

Question 3

method of Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 3

•60 babies (31 male, 29 female) from Glasgow
•the babies and their mothers were visited every month for the first year and then again at 18 months
•the mothers were asked about the kind of protest the babies showed in everyday separations (separation anxiety) and their response to unfamiliar adults (stranger anxiety)

Question 4

findings of schaffer and emerson

Answer 4

•between 25 and 32 weeks of age about 50% of babies showed signs of separation anxiety, usually towards the mother (specific attachment)
•attachments formed between the caregiver who was the most interactive/ attentive to the babies needs
• by the age of 40 weeks 80% of the babies had a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments

Question 5

4 stages of attachment (s&e)

Answer 5

asocial stage
indiscriminate stage
specific attachment
multiple attachments

Question 6

how many babies were in Schaffer and emerson’s study

Answer 6

60 (31 male, 29 female)

Question 7

where were the babies from schaffer and emerson’s study from?

Answer 7

Glasgow, same social class and district

Question 8

two types of anxiety expressed in schaffer and emerson’s study

Answer 8

• separation anxiety
• stranger anxiety

Question 9

between how many weeks did 50% of babies show a sign of separation anxiety?

Answer 9

25 and 32 weeks

Question 10

by the age of 40 weeks how many babies had formed a specific attachment?

Answer 10

80%

Question 11

by the age of 40 weeks how many babies had formed multiple attachments?

Answer 11

30%

Question 12

evaluation points of schaffer and emerson

Answer 12

strength- good external validity
strength- longitudinal design
limitation- limited sample characteristics

Question 13

schaffer and emerson strength: (validity)

Answer 13

it has good external validity. the study was carried out in the families own homes and most of the observations were actually done by the parents. this means that the babies behaviour was unlikely to be affected by the presence of observers so they behaved naturally, therefore it has good ecological validity and its results into the stages of attachment is valid.

Question 14

schaffer and emerson strength: (design)

Answer 14

it has a longitudinal design. the study was carried out longitudinally, meaning the same children were followed up and observed regularly. [the quicker option would have been to observe different children at each age, this would be called a cross- sectional design]. however, the longitudinal design has better internal validity as it does not have participant variables.

Question 15

schaffer and emerson limitation: (sample)

Answer 15

it has limited sample characteristics, the sample size was 60 and all the families were from the same city, district and social class at a time over 50 years ago. this means the results may not be able to be generalised.

Question 16

age of the asocial stage/ pre-attachment stage

Answer 16

0-6 weeks

Question 17

age of the indiscriminate attachment stage

Answer 17

6 weeks- 7 months

Question 18

age of the specific attachment stage

Answer 18

7-9 months

Question 19

age of the multiple attachment stage

Answer 19

10+ months

Question 20

what is attachment?

Answer 20

a close emotional relationship between an infant and its caregiver. attached infants show a desire to be close to their main caregiver and show distress when separated.

Question 21

pre-attachment stage (asocial)

Answer 21

the babies behaviour towards human and non human objects is quite similar, and both might produce reactions like a smile. they are happier in the presence of humans and show a preference for familiar adults

Question 22

indiscriminate attachment stage

Answer 22

babies display more observable social behaviour. they enjoy human company and most babies respond equally to any caregiver. they do not usually show separation or stranger anxiety at this point. they recognise and prefer familiar adults.

Question 23

specific attachment stage

Answer 23

they have special preference for a single person (primary attachment figure). this is called a specific attachment. the baby shoes stranger fear and separation anxiety, the baby looks to particular people for protection and comfort, attaching to the ones who attend to their needs the best

Question 24

multiple attachment stage

Answer 24

the baby becomes increasingly more independent and forms several attachments, these relationships are called secondary attachments and are formed between them and other familiar humans.

Question 25

when is an attachment formed?

Answer 25

at 7-9 months, when the baby reaches the specific attachment stage

Question 26

what percentage of children became attached to their mother first?

Answer 26

65%

Question 27

what percentage of children became attached to their father first?

Answer 27

3%