Schaffer's Stages of Attachment

Question 1

STAGE 1: Asocial stage

Answer 1

Birth - 2 months
Very young infants are asocial in that many kinds of stimuli, both social + non-social, procedure a favourable reaction such as a smile. Very few protest.

Question 2

STAGE 2: Indiscriminate attachment

Answer 2

2-7 months
Infants indiscriminately enjoy human company.
They get upset when an individual ceases to interact with them.
From 3 mths, they smile at more familiar faces and are comforted.

Question 3

STAGE 3: Specific attachment

Answer 3

7 months+
Expresses protest when separated from one particular individual.
They attempt to stay close to the person + show wariness of strangers (stranger anxiety).

Question 4

STAGE 4: Multiple attachment

Answer 4

by 1 year
Children begin to attach to others.
By 18 mths, the majority of infants have formed multiple attachments

Question 5

THE GLASGOW STUDY: Schaffer and Emerson (1964) - Procedure:

Answer 5

Ppts = 60 infants from working-class homes in Glasgow
Beginning of study infant ages ranged from 5 - 23 weeks
They were studied for 1 year
Mothers visited every 4 weeks - they reported their infant’s response to separation in seven everyday situations
Mother asked to describe the intensity of any protest - rated on a 4 point scale