Schaffer's Stages of Attachment Flashcards
What was Schaffer and Emerson’s procedure?
The study involved 60 babies from working-class families in 1964 Glasgow. Researchers visited babies every month for the first year. They asked mothers questions about the kind of protest their babies showed in different scenarios - testing sep anxiety or stranger anxiety.
What is Stage 1?
The Asocial Stage - The baby’s behaviour towards people and inanimate objects is similar. They show a minor preference for certain people, and they are currently forming the base attachments.
What is Stage 2?
Indiscriminate Attachment - From 2 - 7 months babies display obvious and observable behaviours. They show a clear preference for humans>objects. They recognise and prefer the company of familiar people, but accept comfort from anyone. Do not usually show sep or stranger anxiety.m
What is Stage 3?
Specific Attachment - around 7 months the majority of babies display attachment to one person. These include stranger and sep anxiety. The person they are attached to is known as the Primary Attachment Figure - 65% of time is the mother.
What is Stage 4?
Multiple Attachments - shortly after 7 months, they begin to extend this to other people they spend time with. These are called secondary attachments. 29% formed secondary attachments within a month of the initial with the PAF.
What is the strength - Good external validity
Most of the observations were made during ordinary activities by the parents and then reported. The babies would not have been distracted or nervous. This means it is more likely the babies acted naturally under observation.
What is the counterpoint to - Good external validity
There are issues with mothers being the observers - they might have been biased with what they noticed or reported. This means that even if babies behaved naturally their behaviour may not have been accurately reported.
What is the limitation - Poor evidence for the asocial stage
A limitation is the validity of measures used to assess attachment in the asocial stage. Young babies have little bodily control - and could have displayed signs of anxiety in subtle, hard to observe ways. This means they may be social but seem asocial due to flawed methods.
What is the strength - Real-World Application
They have practical application for day care. In the 1 and 2 stage daycare is likely to be easy as they accept comfort from anyone, but starting daycare at 7 months may be an issue. This means that parents can plan when they use day care.
