Stages of attachment

Question 1

What is the aim/procedures of Schaffer and Emersons study(A01)

Answer 1

Aim - Observational study to see the development of attachment
Procedure - 60 babies from Glasgow working class families
Babies are visited once a month until 1/at 18 months
Researchers ask mothers if the baby shows separation anxiety, stranger anxiety and reunion behaviour

Question 2

What are the features of the asocial stage(A01)

Answer 2

0-2 months old
Humans/objects treated the same
Smile at anyone
Happier with people instead of being alone

Question 3

Features of the indiscriminate stage(A01)

Answer 3

2-6 months
Recognise/prefer familiar faces
Prefer people over objects
Accept comfort from anyone(low stranger anxiety)

Question 4

Features of the discriminate stage(A01)

Answer 4

7-12 months
Preference for one caregiver(primary attachment)
Show separation anxiety
Show stranger anxiety
Use familiar adults as a secure base

Question 5

Features of the multiple attachment stage(A01)

Answer 5

1 year onwards
Multiple attachments(secondary attachments)
Separation anxiety with the secondary attachments

Question 6

Strength of Schaffer and Emersons study being a longitudinal study(A03)

Answer 6

Eliminates extraneous variables

Allows accurate analysis to create the stages which leads to high internal validity

Question 7

What is the disadvantage of the study being conducted on one social class(A03)

Answer 7

Glasgow families/babies are different to families/babies worldwide
Reduces population validity/credibility

Question 8

What is an advantage of the study being conducted in a natural environment/counter to this advantage(A03)

Answer 8

Babies/mothers act naturally

Can lead to social desirability as mothers can lie to researchers to seem like a better mother(counter)

Question 9

Issues and debates for stages of attachment(A03)

Answer 9

Culturally biased
Assumes stages of attachment are in a fixed order for all people
Collectivist cultures(e.g Uganda) may cause babies to form multiple attachments first