Stages of attachment

Question 1

method of schaffer n emersons study

Answer 1

1964
60 glasgow babies 31 boy 29 girl w/c fams
babies + mums visited at homes monthly for a yr and at 18 months
sep anxiety measured by asking mothers ab child’s behaviour during everyday separation
stranger anx measured by asking mothers ab childs anxiety response to unfamiliar adults

Question 2

findings of schaffer n emoerson study

Answer 2

50% babies showed sep anxiety towards certain adults between 25-32
the specific attachment was the mother
attachment was to the most interactive caregiver those who were sensitive towards the infants signals and expressions (reciprocity) not necessarily who infants spent most time w

Question 3

schaffers stages of attachment

Answer 3

asocial stage - first few weeks
indiscriminate attachment - 2-7 months
specific attachment / around 7 months
multiple attachments - by one yr

Question 4

asocial stage

Answer 4

first few weeks
babys behaviour towards inanimate ibjects and humans r similar
has some preference for familar adults - easily calmed by them
babies happier in presence of other himans

Question 5

indiscriminate stage

Answer 5

2-7 months
babies jow more social behaviour w preference to ppl than objects
recognise and prefer familiar adults
dont show stranger or sep anxiety
attachment is indiscriminate as same towards all

Question 6

specifc attachment

Answer 6

around 7 months
stranger + sep anx occurs when separated from specific adult
said to have formed attachment w prim attachmnet fig
65% mother cases- offers most interaxtions n responds to babies signals w most skill

Question 7

multiple attachments

Answer 7

by 1 yr
secondary attachments w other adults form shortly after
in s+es study - 29% babies had sexondary attachments within a month of forming specific attachment
by 1 yr, majority had multiple attachments

Question 8

strengths - carried out longitudinally

Answer 8

same children were followed n observed regs
quicker alternative would be to observe diff children at each age - cross sectional design
but better internal validity as not any cofounding varibables of individual differences between participants

Question 9

s n e’s study has external validity

Answer 9

most obs made my parents during ordinary activitie n reported to researchers
babies behaviours are unlijely to be affected by presence of observers
highly likely participants behvaed naturallt when being obs

Question 10

limitation- problem w assesment of multiple attachments

Answer 10

bc a baby gets distressed when an indiv leaves room doesn’t necessarily mean that the indiv is an attachment fig
bowlby 1969 - children may be distressed when a playmate leaves room but doesnt signify attachment to them
so s and es view of stages doesnt distinguish vetween behaviour towards secondary attachment figs