Schaffer‘s Stages of Attachment

Question 1

What was the aim of Schaffers experiment?

Answer 1

To investigate the formation of early attachment, at the age they’ve developed emotional intensity and to who.

Question 2

What was the sample in Schaffers experiment?

Answer 2

60 babies (31 male and 29 female) from Glasgow from working class families

Question 3

What type of study was Schaffers experiment?

Answer 3

Longitudinal experiment

Question 4

When were the mothers and babies studied in Schaffers experiment?

Answer 4

Every month for the first year
At 18 months

Question 5

What techniques were used to study the participants in Schaffers experiment?

Answer 5

Observations and interviews with the mothers

Question 6

What type of questions did they ask the mothers in Schaffers experiment?

Answer 6

The kind of protest their babies showed in 7 everyday situations

Question 7

What did they asses in Schaffers experiment?

Answer 7

Separation anxiety/protest.
The infant being left alone in a room
Left in the pram outside the shop
Left in a cot in the night.
Stranger anxiety with researcher doing home visits and approaching the infant

Question 8

What did Schaffer find in his experiment between 25-32 weeks?

Answer 8

-50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult .
-Showed joy at reunion with that person. (Specific attachment to a primary attachment figure)

Question 9

Schaffer found in his experiment that attachment was most likely to caregivers that were?

Answer 9

Most interactive and infants spent the most time with.

Question 10

Schaffer found in his experiment what percentages to those who formed specific attachments too?

Answer 10

-65% of children the first specific attachment was the mother and a further 30% the mother was first joint object of attachment
-fathers were rarely sole of attachment but 27% were joint first object

Question 11

Schaffer found in his experiment that by 40weeks Infants had what?

Answer 11

A specific attachment (80% of babies) and 30% displayed secondary attachments. 75% of babies studied an attachment with the father was formed at age 18 months.

Question 12

What did Schaffer conclude in his experiment?

Answer 12

Pattern of attachment common to all infants is biologically controlled. Attachments are more easily made with those who are sensitive. Fathers are more likely to be secondary attachment figures.

Question 13

When is the Asocial stage?

Answer 13

First few weeks

Question 14

In the asocial stage the baby does what?

Answer 14

Recognises/starts to form a bond with its carers who become a the primary caregiver.
show preference for familiar adults
Reciprocity and interactional synchrony play a role in them forming relationships

Question 15

When is the indiscriminate stage?

Answer 15

2-7 months

Question 16

What does the infant do in the indiscriminate stage?

Answer 16

Preference for people rather than inanimate objects and recognise and prefer adults.
Distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people
Do not show stranger or separation anxiety

Question 17

When is the specific attachment stage?

Answer 17

7-12 months

Question 18

What does the infant do in the specific attachment stage?

Answer 18

Display anxiety towards strangers and become anxious when separated from one particular adult.
Show joy at reunion with that particular adult and most comforted by them

Question 19

What behaviour do infants show in the multiple attachment stage?

Answer 19

After an attachment to one adult they extend their attachment behaviour to multiple adults whom they regularly spend time with, they are secondary attachments