Schaffer’s Stages Of Attachment Flashcards
Define stages of attachment
sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages. In stages of attachment,
characteristics of infants’ behaviour changes as the infant gets older.
What are multiple attachments?
Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments when they have formed one true attachment to a main carer.
Who proposed a series of stages in the development of attachments?
Schaffer
Name all the stages of Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of development and at what age they occur.
stage 1: Asocial (first few weeks)
stage 2: indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
stage 3: specific attachment (7 months)
stage 4: multiple attachments (about 1 year)
Outline the asocial stage
1
babies behaviour towards human and non-human objects is similar
Outline stage 2: indiscriminate attachment
1
234
they prefer people rather than objects and recognise familiar adults
they usually accept comfort from any adult
do not usually show separation anxiety
their attachment behaviour is not different towards any person
(Prefer company of adults - but will accept comfort off anyone)
Outline the specific attachment stage
1
2
3
4
babies show separation anxiety towards one particular adult, usually mother
and show stranger anxiety
the adult who the child has formed an attachment with is called the primary attachment figure
the primary attachment figure is the one who offers the most interaction and is the most skilled at responding to the baby’s signals
Outline multiple attachments
shortly after primary attachment they extend attachment behaviour to other adults - secondary attachments
29% of babies form secondary attachments within a month of forming primary attachment
by 1 year, the majority of infants have developed multiple attachments
Larry becomes very upset when he sees someone for the first time and can only be comforted by his mum
Larry grasps every object presented to him, from mummy’s finger to his teddy bear. He makes the same gurgling noises at everyone he sees
Larry seems to recognise other family members (such as his grandparents) and is happy to play with them all
When Larry cries, he is happy to be comforted to family friends and even babysitters as well as his mum and dad
Identify which stages of Larry’s development are being described. Explain your choices and give Larry’s approximate age at each stage.
Stage 3 = Specific attachments - showing stranger anxiety and mother is his primary attachment figure (around 7 months old)
Stage 1 = Asocial - non-discriminate between objects and humans (few weeks old)
Stage 2 = Indiscriminate attachment- recognises familiar adults and attachment behaviour is not different towards any one person (2-7 months old)
Stage 4 = Multiple attachment- has established secondary attachments and extend attachment behaviour towards them (about 1 year old)
What study provides evidence to support stages in attachment/ the formation of multiple attachments?
Schaffer and Emerson’s Scottish infants study
What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson’s Scottish infant study?
1 (234)
To investigate the formation of early attachments (age of development, number of attachment relationships infants have, and emotional intensity)
Describe the procedure and the findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s Scottish infant study
Procedure
Findings
1
2
3
Conclusions
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2
3
1964: In a longitudinal study of 60 Scottish (Glaswegian) infants throughout their first 18 months - they were visited in their home every month for the first year and then at 18 months old.
60 infants were observed and mothers interviewed about the child’s responses to separation.
Two aspects of attachment behaviour were considered:
separation anxiety (e.g. Protest with hen mother leaves the room)
stranger anxiety (response to an unfamiliar adult)
Findings: by 18 months
1. Most formed one attachment most commonly selected mother
2. although 75% also chose father
3. Some children formed as many as five attachments
Conclusion:
Attachment formed bas off who is most responsive to child (sensitive responsiveness) often the father.
The most important fact in forming attachments is not who feeds and changes the child but who plays and communicates with them
Babies do not normally demonstrate monotropy (one attachment) and it is usual for a child to have several attachment figures (multiple attachments) and useful
EVALUATION OF THE SCOTTISH INFANTS INFANTS STUDY
L
(El)
S
(EL)
One limitation is that it has low sample characteristics.
However supported by cross cultural studies (efe people of zaire)
Natural environment but
One limitation is that the study has low validity
Evaluation of the Scottish infants study
Limitation limited sample characteristics
E
L
1964
Glaswegian children
60 infants
Different parenting techniques
Different cultures
So doesn’t generalise well
(although cross cultural support Efe people from Zaire)
Evaluation of the Scottish infants study
One limitation is that is has a low internal validity
Parents were asked to keep diaries of behaviour of infants during normal ordinary activities and report to researchers so natural environment - less demand characteristics however parents may have forgotten, social desirable answers, etc so reports may not be true
reduces validity of research.
