Stages Of Attachment

Question 1

Study

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson 1964
60 babies
Glasgow
Visited at home, monthly for 18 month
Interactions with carers observed and carers interviewed
Diary kept by mother to examine evidence for development of attachments

Three measures:
Stranger anxiety- response to arrival of stranger
Separation anxiety- distress level at separation, comfort needed on return
Social referencing- degree child looks at cater to check how to respond to new (secure base)

Question 2

Sequence of attachments

Answer 2

Asocial (0-6 weeks)
Indiscriminate attachments (2-7 month)
Specific attachment (7-9 month)
Multiple attachment (10+ month)

Question 3

Asocial

Answer 3

Asocial (0-6 weeks)- asocial, respond to social and non social stimuli with favourable response

Question 4

Indiscriminate attachment

Answer 4

Indiscriminate attachments (2-7 month)-
indiscriminately enjoy human company and equally respond to any caregiver.
Upset when cease to interact.
From 3 months smile at familiar faces and comforted by regular caregiver

Question 5

Specific attachment

Answer 5

Specific attachment (7-9 month)
Special preference for single attachment figure
Looks to certain people for security, comfort, protection
Shows stranger anxiety and separation distress

Question 6

Multiple attachment

Answer 6

Multiple attachment (10+months)
Baby becomes independent and forms several attachments
By one year most infants have multiple attachments

Question 7

Limitation Schaffer stages of attachment (contrast)

Answer 7

Schaffer says form single attachment before multiple and that multiple is a stage
Supported by bowlby

However in cultures with multiple caregivers being normal- collectivist cultures
Van Ljzendoorn found babies can form multiple attachments from the outset
Therefore not universal, ethnocentric

Question 8

strength schaffer stages of attachment (valid)

Answer 8

carried out in family home mostly by parents in ordinary activities
therefore high external validity
alsoreduced researcher effects as research wont affect babies behaviour

however
based off mostly self report
may not be fully accurate, may be busy whilst filling out so miss things, could have social desirability bias, demand characteristics
limits theory as conclusions may not be accurate

Question 9

limitation schaffer stages of attachment (problems)

Answer 9

issues studying asocial stage
young babies lack motor skill and coordination therefore very difficult to observe behaviour as there isn’t much to observe
Brember behavioural response vs behavioural understanding
-just because appear to have bond or display social behaviour doesn’t mean they do, or child understands the significance of the bond