Schaffer and Emerson's Stages of Attachment

Question 1

What are the 4 stages of attachment identified by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 1

A-social stage, indiscriminate stage, specific/discriminate stage and multiple attachment stage.

Question 2

What age is the a-social attachment stage classified as? What is the description of the stage?

Answer 2

First few weeks.

Babies respond equally to all caregivers/ not predisposed to one caregiver.

Question 3

What age is the specific/ indiscriminate stage? What is the description of this stage?

Answer 3

2-7 months.

Babies can distinguish between primary and secondary caregivers but will accept care from anyone due to no stranger anxiety.

Question 4

What age is the discriminate stage? What is the description of this stage?

Answer 4

After 7 months.

Babies now look to specific people for comfort and security. They have formed a primary attachment and now experience stranger/ separation anxiety. Sensitive responsiveness is key.

Question 5

What age is the multiple attachments stage? What is the description of this stage?

Answer 5

9 months +.

Babies extend their attachment behaviours to multiple attachments with other adults with whom they spend their time.

Question 6

What type of study is Schaffer and Emerson’s?

Answer 6

Naturalistic- it’s in the participants own homes. Overt- parents keep diaries regarding their babies. Participant observation- S+E act as strangers to observe.

Question 7

Positive evaluation points for Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 7

• There is high external validity due to it being a naturalistic experiment. Parents record behaviour of infants and report back to researcher meaning babies are not affected by their presence.
• Due to it being a longitudinal study, the effects of participant variables is reduced. This increases the internal validity.

Question 8

Negative evaluation points for Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 8

• Longitudinal study- amount of time and funding needed is going to be high.
• There is problems with studying the asocial stage. Babies are too young to have any coordination and are pretty much immobile. It is very difficult to make judgments based off of babies.
• Contradictory research? Bushell et al (1989) suggested that face discrimination takes place at 12-36 hours.

Question 9

What is an individualistic culture?

Answer 9

Group of people valuing rights and interests of individuals. Results in concern for independence and self assertiveness.

Question 10

What is a collectivist culture?

Answer 10

A group of people that place more value on collective rather than individual. They favour interdependence of independence.