Schaffer's stages of attachment

Question 1

How many babies were involved with the study?

Answer 1

60 babies - 31 male and 29 female.

Question 2

What background did the babies come from for Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 2

They were all from Glasgow, Scotland and the majority came from skilled, working-class families.

Question 3

What sort of study did Schaffer and Emerson conduct?

Answer 3

A longitudinal study.

Question 4

How often did Schaffer and Emerson visit the babies?

Answer 4

He visited their home every month for the first year and then again at 18 months.

Question 5

What were the 4 stages identified by Schaffer?

Answer 5

1 - Asocial,
2 - Indiscriminate,
3 - Specific,
4 - Multiple.

Question 6

What type of questions did the researchers ask the mothers?

Answer 6

They asked about the kind of protests their babies showed in seven everyday separations (to measure separation anxiety).

Question 7

What was the name of the study that was conducted by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 7

Glasgow babies (1964)

Question 8

What were the two main things measured in the study conducted by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 8

• Separation anxiety,

- Stranger anxiety.

Question 9

Schaffer and Emerson found that between 25 and 32 weeks about half of the babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult, what type of attachment is shown?

Answer 9

A specific attachment, (to a singular person).

Question 10

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 10

The infant’s anxiety response to unfamiliar adults.

Question 11

What were the findings for Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 11

Between 25 and 32 weeks about half of the babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the mother.

By 40 weeks, 80% developed a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.

Attachments tended to be the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and expressions (reciprocity).

Question 12

Schaffer and Emerson found that the babies were most likely to form a specific attachment to who?

Answer 12

The mother - the attachments tended to be the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and expressions (reciprocity).

Question 13

T / F
- Schaffer and Emerson found that babies were most likely to form an attachment with the person whom they spent most time with.

Answer 13

False - They were most likely to form an attachment with those who showed high levels of reciprocity.

Question 14

When did Schaffer and Emerson investigate the Glasgow babies?

Answer 14

1964.

Question 15

What was the first stage of attachment identified by Schaffer?

Answer 15

Asocial stage.

Question 16

Schaffer and Emerson concluded that what was the most important thing in forming an attachment?

Answer 16

Quality of time, (rather than quantity of time).

Question 17

What is the mnemonic that can be used to remember the different stages of attachment?

Answer 17

Attachment - (asocial),
Is - (indiscriminate),
Sexy - (specific),
Man - (multiple).

Question 18

Explain the asocial stage of attachment:

Answer 18

The baby is recognising and forming bonds with its carers, however, the behaviour towards non-human objects is quite similar. They show some preference for familiar adults when requiring calming and happier in the presence of others.

Question 19

When does the asocial stage occur?

Answer 19

First few weeks.

Question 20

At which stage do babies usually cuddles and comfort from any adult?

Answer 20

Indiscriminate stage.

Question 21

In which stage do babies show no separation anxiety or stranger anxiety?

Answer 21

Indiscriminate stage.

Question 22

What was the second stage of attachment identified by Schaffer?

Answer 22

Indiscriminate attachment.

Question 23

Explain the specific stage of attachment:

Answer 23

Babies show stranger anxiety and separation anxiety to one particular adult (termed the PCG).

Question 24

Who is most likely to be the PCG?

Answer 24

The adult who offers the most interaction and responds to the baby’s ‘signals’ with the most skill.

Question 25

What was the final stage of attachment identified by Schaffer?

Answer 25

Multiple attachments.

Question 26

At which stage is a baby said to display separation anxiety and stranger anxiety?

Answer 26

Specific attachment stage.

Question 27

Explain the multiple attachments (stage of attachment):

Answer 27

Babies typically begin to show attachments to other adults who they spend regular time with, these are secondary attachments, they form quickly after the specific attachment and by age 1 most infants have multiple attachments.

Question 28

When does the indiscriminate stage occur?

Answer 28

2 to 7 months.

Question 29

Why is the indiscriminate stage called this?

Answer 29

Because their attachment behaviours (stranger anxiety and separation anxiety) is no different towards any one person.

Question 30

In which stage do babies show similar behaviours towards non-human objects as they do with humans?

Answer 30

Asocial stage.

Question 31

When does the specific stage occur?

Answer 31

From 7 months.

Question 32

What was the penultimate stage of attachment identified by Schaffer?

Answer 32

Specific attachment.

Question 33

What is a secondary attachment?

Answer 33

An attachment that forms after a specific attachment to someone the baby regularly spends time with.

Question 34

Explain the Indiscriminate stage of attachment:

Answer 34

Babies display more observable social behaviours, clearly preferring people to inanimate objects, recognise and prefer familiar adults and usually accept cuddles / comfort from anyone, no stranger or separation anxiety is shown in this stage.

Question 35

Who is a baby likely to form a secondary attachment to?

Answer 35

Someone who they spend a lot of time with or someone who is good at responding to their cues.

Question 36

How quickly after a specific attachment are more attachments likely to form?

Answer 36

Very quickly, Schaffer and Emerson found 29% of babies had multiple attachments within a month of developing a specific attachment.

Question 37

Schaffer and Emerson found that most babies developed multiple attachments before what age?

Answer 37

1 year old.

Question 38

AO2 - Which stage is this baby in (&why)?
I have just started to really be interested in the people around me. I don’t mind who cuddles me and am not particularly bothered if they come and go.

Answer 38

Indiscriminate.

• Observable social behaviour,
• Accepting cuddles from anyone,
• No separation anxiety.

Question 39

When is a baby said to have developed a specific attachment?

Answer 39

When they show separation anxiety when they are separated from this particular adult.

Question 40

A03 - External validity.

Answer 40

Schaffer and Emerson’s study was carried out in the families’ own homes and most of the observation was done by parents during ordinary activities and reported later. This means babies were unlikely to have been affected by researchers and behaved naturally, therefore, the study has good external validity.

Question 41

AO2 - Which stage is this baby in (&why)?
I like my mum and dad but i have a lovely nursery worker who looks after me and we get on great - she is really nice if i am upset.

Answer 41

Multiple.

• Attachments to multiple people (mum, dad and teacher),
• Formed quickly.

Question 42

A03 - Longitudinal design.

Answer 42

The longitudinal study method meant that the same children were used throughout the experiment, this meant that there was less confounding variables as participant differences were reduced.

Question 43

Who did Schaffer and Emerson refer to as the Primary Care-Giver (PCG)?

Answer 43

The adult who a baby had developed a specific attachment to.

Question 44

At which stage is a (strong) preference for human rather than inanimate objects begin to appear?

Answer 44

Indiscriminate stage (a slight preference can be seen in the asocial stage though).

Question 45

AO2 - Which stage is this baby in (&why)?

I really do not want mum to leave me at all at the moment… and other people coming just makes me cry.

Answer 45

Specific.

• Specific attachment to mother,
• Separation anxiety if she leaves,
• Stranger anxiety.

Question 46

AO3 - Limited sample charactersitics.

Answer 46

The sample size (60 babies) was good considering the large amount of data collected, however, all families involved were from the same district and social class in the same city and this was over 50 years ago. Therefore it cannot be generalised to a modern society due to the low ecological validity.

Question 47

AO3 - Asocial stage problems.

Answer 47

The problem with studying the asocial stage is that babies are so young they have poor co-ordination and are mostly immobile, therefore, it is difficult to measure behavioural characteristics as there isn’t much observable behaviour.

Question 48

AO3 - Limited behavioural measures.

Answer 48

Schaffer and Emerson’s study used two simple behavioural characteristics as a guideline for attachment, however, critics have said these are too crude as measures to define an attachment.

Question 49

Suggest a benefit of a cross-sectional design over a longitudinal design:

Answer 49

• Much quicker to conduct.

Question 50

AO3 - Measuring multiple attachments.

Answer 50

Another attachment is measured through separation anxiety, however, Bowlby pointed out that children have playmates aswell as attachment figures and are distressed when a playmate leaves the room even though there is no significant attachment.

Question 51

AO3 - Conflicting evidence on multiple attachments.

Answer 51

It is not entirely clear when children become capable of multiple attachments, some research finds most babies (if not all) form a single attachment before forming multiple (Bowlby). However, other research has found babies form multiple attachments from the outset (Van IJzendoorn). (This highlights a cultural divide)