Stages of attachment

Question 1

What are the stages of development proposed by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 1

Asocial stage - Lasts up to six weeks after birth and there isn’t any discrimination between humans, also prefer humans over non-humans
Indiscriminate stage - Six weeks to six months, can tell people apart, stronger bonds with familiar adults, no fear of strangers
Specific stage - Around 7 months, separation anxiety, distress in company of strangers
Multiple attachments- Around 10 months, attachment with primary caregiver grows, interest in developing bonds with others

Question 2

What is the outline of Schaffer and Emerson’s key study?

Answer 2

• Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
• Observational study
• Glasgow
• Observed babies for 18 months mostly from skilled-working class families
• Visited once a month for a year and then again at 18 months
• Parents asked to keep a diary of observations

Question 3

What were the results of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 3

• 25-32 weeks - 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards a specific adult
• Attachment was normally towards the caregiver who was most sensitive to infants signals and facial expressions
• 40 weeks - 30% formed multiple attachments and described as secondary attachments

Question 4

Evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson key study:

Answer 4

• Data collection issues - data collected was based on mothers reports of their infants - bias
• Out of date research - conducted in the 1960’s

Question 5

Can this study be applied to real-life situations?

Answer 5

Yes because the babies were observed in their own homes which is a natural environment so we can assume it is high in ecological validity, the findings can also be generalised to the real world increasing external validity

Question 6

What is the role of the father?

Answer 6

There is little relationship between attachment and amount of time a father spends with an infant. This could be because men lack the emotional sensitivity that women have. Could also be because in most societies there is sex stereotypes where women are meant to care for children.

Question 7

What research evidence is there for the role of a father?

Answer 7

• Heerman et al (1994) found men are less sensitive to infant cues than women
• Frodi et al (1978) showed videotapes of infants crying and there was no difference in the physiological responses

Question 8

Evaluation of the role of the father:

Answer 8

Fathers may be more of a secondary attachment figure because they are more playful and provide challenging situations for children. There also could be the idea that a lack of sensitivity can be seen as positive because it fosters problem solving by making greater communicative and cognitive demands on children

Question 9

What are multiple attachments?

Answer 9

Attachments to two or more people - most babies are able to form multiple attachments once they form a specific attachment to the main caregiver