Schaffer's Stages Of Attachment Flashcards
Where were the babies from?
Mostly working class families in Glasgow
How often were the babies visited?
Every month for the first year and again at 18 months.
Findings of the study
Between 25 and 32 weeks of age around 50% of babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult (mostly mother)
40 weeks - 80% had a specific attachment and 30% had multiple attachments
What is the first stage of attachment?
The asocial stage
What is the second stage of attachment?
Indiscriminate attachment
Third stage of attachment?
Specific attachment
Last stage of attachment?
Multiple attachments
What occurs in the first stage of attachment?
The baby recognises and forms bonds with its carers.
Baby’s behaviour towards non human objects and humans is similar.
They show some preference for familiar adults, in that they find it easier to calm them.
Happier in the presence of humans.
Describe the indiscriminate attachment stage.
From 2-7 months babies begin to show more observable social behaviour.
Prefer people to inanimate objects.
Preference for familiar adults, but accept comfort from anyone.
Do not show much if at all separation & stranger anxiety.
Behaviour called indiscriminate because it isn’t different towards any one person.
What happens in the third stage of attachment?
From around 7 months the majority of babies start to display anxiety towards strangers and to become anxious when separation occurs (65% it is the mother)
This is their specific attachment.
The adult is termed the primary attachment figure, not necessarily the person the child spends the most time with but one who offers most interaction and responds to the baby’s signals with the most skill.
How many babies did Schaffer use?
60
31 male
29 female
