SCHAFFER'S STAGES OF ATTACHMENT Flashcards
what are the stages of attachment according to Schaffer and Emerson?
asocial stage to indiscriminate attachment to specific attachment to multiple attachments
when does the asocial stage occur?
within the first few weeks
what happens at the asocial stage?
babies have the same reaction to inanimate objects to humans, prefer familiar adults
when does the indiscriminate stage occur?
2-7 months
what happens at the indiscriminate stage?
preference for humans, know and recognise familiar adults but no stranger of separation anxiety
when does specific attachment occur?
occurs after 7 months
what happens in the specific attachment stage?
the baby shows stranger and separation anxiety to a primary attachment figure
who is the primary attachment figure identified in the specific attachment stage?
the mother 65% of the time as it is the person who offers the most interaction and responds to the baby’s signals
when do babies start to form multiple attachment?
by 1 year
what is evidence from Schaffer and Emerson’s study that support multiple attachments?
29% multiple attachments 1 month after primary attachment
1 year majority had formed multiple attachments
what is a problem with studying the asocial stage?
babies may be social, but not able to express it due to them being immobile so difficult to make observations of behaviour
who argues that the timing of multiple attachments is confliciting?
Van Ijzendoorn
what does Ijzendoorn say about multiple attachments?
criticises Bowlby who says develop multiple after primary, as multiple attachment appear from the start in collectivist cultures where it is the norm
what was the procedure for Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
60 WC babies and mother visited every month for a year and again at 18 months
how was information collected about stranger and separation anxiety in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
asked mother about babies behaviour in every day separations and children’s anxiety when left with unfamiliar adults
what were the findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
50% of babies showed separation anxiety to specific attachment between 25-32 weeks
what did Schaffer and Emerson conclude?
the person who was the most interactive and sensitive to the babies signals mattered more than the person who had spent the most time with the baby
Schaffer and Emerson’s study has high…
external validity because behaviour of baby was unlikely to be affected by researchers as observations were made by parents
no demand characteristics
Longitudinal studies have high…
internal validity because there is not the confounding variable of individual differences
There is a problem with how what is assessed?
multiple attachment, distress doesn’t equal attachment e.g. infants get stressed when the playmate leaves so doesn’t distinguish properly between secondary attachment figures and playmates
