Schaffer & Emerson

Question 1

Primary attachment figures

Answer 1

the person whom an infant is most intensely attached.They are the person a child responds to most intensely at separation.This is usually the mother, but other people can fulfil the role

Question 2

secondary attachment figure

Answer 2

a person that an infant receives additional support from.They provide a safety net.(father)

Question 3

Schaffer & Emerson’s study

Answer 3

aimed to investigate the formation of early attachments. The study involved 60 babies from Glasgow who came from working class families.The babies and their mothers were visited at home every month for the first year and again at 18 months.The researchers measured separation anxiety by asking parent what kind of protests their babies showed in seven everyday situation. e.g: adult leaving the room.The researchers also assessed stranger anxiety e.g the infants response to unfamiliar adults. This was designed to measure the infants attachment.

Question 4

Findings of Schaffer & Emerson

Answer 4

fiund that majority of the babies did become attached to their mother first(around 7 months).Therefore the primary attachment figure is much more likely to be the mother.They found that within a few weeks of the primary attachment,the infant formed secondary attachments to their family members,including the father.In 75% of the infants studies an attachment was formed with the father by 18 months.This was determined by the infants showing separation anxiety towards their fathers.Therefore,fathers are more likely to be secondary attachment figures

Question 5

Evaluation to Schaffer & Emerson study

Question 6

stage 1:Asocial stage

Answer 6

-babies in the first few weeks of their life recognise and begin to form bonds with its carers.
-babies show some preference for familiar adults
-babies are happier in the presence of others.
-reciprocity and interactional synchrony play a role in establishing the infants relationship with others

Question 7

indiscriminate stage

Answer 7

from 2-7 months babies display more observable social behaviour.
-they show a preference for people rather than inanimate objects
-prefer familiar adults
-can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar
-accept cuddles from any adult
-do not show separation or stranger anxiety
-their behaviour is not different towards anyone

Question 8

specific attachment

Answer 8

occurs at 7 months
-babies display anxiety towards strangers + become anxious when separated from one particular adult + are most comforted by them.
-this adult is the primary attachment.