Schaffer’s Stages Of Attachment Flashcards
What study identified the stages of attachment
The Schaffer and Emerson study- Glasgow babies
Schaffer and Emerson carried out on observational study on 60 infants (31 male and 29 female) from working class families in Glasgow.
At the start of the study, the babies were aged between 5-23 weeks.
Researchers visited the babies homes every month for the first 12 months, them once again at 18 months.
They interviewed the mothers and observed the children in relation to separation and stranger anxiety, via a range of everyday activities.
What where the results from the Glasgow babies study
At around 6-8 months, 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards their mothers.
By 10 months 80% of the babies had formed a specific attachment (an attachment to one individual person).
What are the 4 stages of attachment
Stage 1 = asocial attachment
Stage 2 = indiscriminate attachment
Stage 3 = specific attachment
Stage 4 = multiple attachment
What are the characteristics of the asocial stage
Between the ages of birth - 2 months
Infants are asocial
At the end of this stage they start to show preferences
What are the characteristics of discriminate attachment
Between 2-6 months
Infants show preferences to different human company
Distinguish between people
Don’t show separation anxiety just yet
What are the characteristics of specific attachment
Age 7-12 months
That show a preference to one specific caregiver
They show separation and stranger anxiety
Joy upon reunion
What are the characteristics of multiple attachment
12 months +
Shows attachment to multiple people
The multiple attachments depend on social circle
However shows comfort and joy with primary caregiver
Strength evaluation
P- it was a naturalistic observation.
E- the babies were observed in their own homes and attachment behaviours, such as testing separation anxiety, were observed through everyday activities.
E- external validity suggesting the stages of attachment are accurate
P- practical application in day care, and careers will know how they “should” react
E asocial, will be okay as long as they have people around the, and things to play with, discriminate will be okay when people meet their needs, specific, will be distressed and multiple will soon form bonds with their teachers.
E- care provision can be planned using staffers and Emerson’s stages of attachment.
Limitation evaluation
P- Data collected from interviews may be inaccurate.
E- Mothers were interviewed about the attachment behaviours of their children, which should lead to social desirability bias, as they want to make themselves look good, rather then telling the truth
E- This will lower the validity as there is no way to check that they are being honest
P- poor sample size
E- The sample was only working class families, due to the stereotypical view of the mother staying home with the child and the father working. However if both parents worked and seen the children equal amounts (which is what would happen in other families), results will be different.
E- lacks population validity due to them not using a larger more inclusive sample
