Stages of attachment Flashcards
What are the four stages of attachment?
-Asocial stage
-Indiscriminate attachment
-Specific attachment
-Multiple attachments
What is Stage 1 ?
Asocial stage
-Occurs first few weeks
-Baby recognising and forming bonds with carers.However, baby’s behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is quite similar.
What do babies show in stage 1 ?
-Babies show some preference for familiar adults in that those individuals find it easier to calm them.
-Babies are also happier when in the presence of other humans
What is stage 2 ?
Indiscriminate attachment
-2-7 month babies display more observable social behaviour.
What do babies show in stage 2 ?
They show a preference for people rather than inanimate objects and recognise and prefer familiar adults.
-At this stage babies accept cuddles and comfort from any adult and they don’t usually show separation anxiety or stranger anxiety.
Why are babies behaviour between 2-7 months called indiscriminate ?
Because it is not different towards any one person.
What is stage 3 ?
Specific attachment
-From around 7 months the majority of babies display anxiety towards strangers and become anxious when separated from a particular adult.
When does a SpeCIfIC Attachment form ?
When they become anxious if not with the primary caregiver
This person is not necessarily the person they spend the most time with but the one who offers the most interaction and responds to the babies signals
What is stage 4 ?
Multiple attachments
- show attachment towards other adults with whom they regularly spend time with.
This is called SECONDARY ATTACHMENTS
Schaffer and Emerson’s study on secondary attachments :
29% of children had secondary attachments within a month of forming a primary attachment.
By the age of 1 year the majority of infants had developed multiple attachments.
