Schaffers Stages Of Attachment A01&3

Question 1

Asocial stage

Answer 1

Baby’s behaviour towards inanimate objects and humans is quite similar
Babies are also happier in the presence of other humans

Question 2

Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)

Answer 2

Babies now display more observable social behaviour with preference for people
Recognise and prefer familiar adults
Babies do not show stranger or separation anxiety
Attachment is indiscriminate, same towards all

Question 3

Specific attachment (around 7 months)

Answer 3

Stranger and separation anxiety when separated from one particular adult
Baby is said to have formed a specific attachment with the primary attachment figure( person who offers most interaction and responds to baby’s signals the most)

Question 4

Multiple attachments (by one year)

Answer 4

Secondary attachments with other adults form shortly after

Question 5

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) stages of attachment procedure

Answer 5

-60 babies from Glasgow most w/c families
-babies and mothers were visited at home every month for a year and at 18 months
-separation and stranger anxiety measured by asking mothers about their children’s behaviour during everyday separations and children’s anxiety response to unfamiliar adults

Question 6

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) stages of attachment findings and conclusions

Answer 6

-50% of babies showed separation anxiety between 25 and 32 weeks (usually with mother)

-attachment tended to be to the caregiver who was the most interactive to infant signals and facial expressions

Question 7

Strength of Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 7

P-has external validity
E-most of the observations were made by parents during ordinary activities and reported to researchers
E- so the behaviour of the babies was unlikely to be affected by presence of observers
L-highly likely that the participants behaved naturally while being observed

Question 8

Limitation of Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 8

P-problem in studying the asocial year
E-Schaffer and Emerson describe the first few weeks as the asocial stage although important interactions take place
E- young babies have Poor coordination and are fairly immobile making it difficult to make judgements based on observations of their behaviour
L- babies are actually quite social but because of flawed methods they appear to be asocial

Question 9

Limitation of Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 9

P-problem with how multiple attachment is assessed
E-Bowlby pointed out that children may be distressed when a playmate leaves the room, but this does no signify attachment to them
E-just because a baby gets distressed when an individual leaves the room does not mean that the individual is a true attachment figure
L-Schaffer and Emerson’s view of stages does not distinguish between behaviour shown towards secondary attachment figures and towards playmates

Question 10

Limitation of Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 10

P-evidence on the timing of multiple attachments is conflicting
E-Bowlbys argues that most babies form attachments to a single main cater before they are able to develop multiple attachments
E-but multiple attachments appear from the outset in cultures where multiple attachments are the norm
L- such cultures are called collectivist because families work together jointly in everything