Schaffer's stages of attachment Flashcards
What was the aim of the study?
to identify stages of attachment / find a pattern in the development of an attachment between infants and parents
Who were the participants in the study?
60 babies from glasgow, all from the same estate
What was the procedure?
they analysed the interactions between infants and carers
interviewed the carers
mother had to keep a diary to track infants behaviours based on separation anxiety, stranger anxiety and social referencing
What did separation anxiety consist of when being measured?
signs of distress when the carer was leaving, how much the infant needs comforting when the carer returns
What did stranger anxiety consist of when being measured?
signs of distress as a response to a stranger arriving
What did social referencing consist of when being measured?
how often the infant looks at their carer to check how they should respond to something new
How long did the study last? What do we call this?
18 months, a longitudinal study
When did the researchers visit?
on a monthly basis and once again at the end of the 18 month period
What did Schaffer and Emerson find?
babies of parents who had sensitive responsiveness were more likely to have formed an attachment
sensitive responsiveness was more important than the amount of time spent with the baby
infants who had parents who responded to their needs quickly and spent more time interacting with the child had more intense attachments
attachments seemed to form when the carer communicates and plays with the child rather than when the carer feeds or cleans the child
What were the four stages of attachment they concluded (with ages)?
asocial stage (0-6 weeks)
indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
discriminate attachment (from 7 months)
multiple attachments (8 months onwards)
What is the asocial stage?
the infants behaviour towards human and non human objects is quite similar. infants show some preference for familiar adults in that those individuals find it easier to calm them
What is indiscriminate attachment?
infants display more observable social behaviour. They can tell people apart and prefer to be in human company. infants usually accept cuddles and comfort from any adult and don’t prefer specific individuals. They don’t show fear of strangers.
What is discriminate attachment?
infants start to display anxiety around strangers and become anxious when separated from one particular adult (usually biological mother in 65% of cases). The infant is said to have formed a specific attachment, the adult is termed the primary attachment figure.
What is a primary attachment figure?
the person who offers the most interaction and responds to the infant’s signals with the most skills.
What is multiple attachments?
infants extend this attachment to multiple adults they spend time with. These are secondary attachment figures.
