Schaffers Stages Of Attachment

Question 1

Who discovered stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Question 2

What are the stages of attachment in order?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What are the key feature of Asocial attachment?

Answer 3

• Babies have similar response to objects and people but a preference for faces/eyes
• Preference for company of familiar people
  -0-6 weeks

Question 4

What are the key features of indiscriminate attachments?

Answer 4

• 2-6 Months
• Now show preference for human company over non human
• Distinguish between different people
• Comforted by anyone
• No stranger or separation anxiety

Question 5

What are the key features of Specific attachment?

Answer 5

• 7-12 months
• Preference for one caregiver
• Separation and Stranger anxiety
  -Infant looks to one person for security
• Shows joy upon reunion with caregiver

Question 6

What are key feature of multiple interactions?

Answer 6

• 1 year onwards
• Attachments are now displayed towards several different people (secondary caregiver)
• Number of multiple attachments depends on circle infant is exposed to
• 29% of children form secondary attachments a month after primary

Question 7

What did Schaffer and Emerson research?

Answer 7

Aim- examine the formation of early attachments
Method- 60 babies (31 male, 29 female) from working class families in Glasgow between 5-23 weeks. Researchers visited babies in their homes every month for the first 12. Interviewed mothers and observed children in relation to separation and stranger anxiety in every day activities.
Results: Provided support for stages of attachment, 25-32 weeks 50% showed separation anxiety towards their mothers. Furthermore, by 40 weeks, 80% had specific attachments and 30% started to form multiple attachments.
Conclusion: Provides support for stages of attachment, attachment develops through stages

Question 8

Evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson (1964) (brief)

Answer 8

• High external validity
  -Lacks population validity
  -Social desirability bias

Question 9

Evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson (detailed)

Answer 9

One strength is that it has high external validity, completed in child’s own home so parents and child acted more naturally results likely to apply to other children from a similar demographic in their home.

Population validity is lacking, only 60 working class mothers and babies from Glasgow may form different attachments to the wealthier families from other countries. Unable to generalise as results are incomparable.

Possibility of social desirability bias, interviews with mother means self reporting which can lead to mother trying to seem like better mothers with secure attachment this could cause bias in data reducing the internal validity since natural behaviour will not have been recorded