Stages of attachment Flashcards
What are the stages of attachment?
Developmental stages where the infant’s behavior towards others changes.
What is a primary attachment figure?
The first attachment figure, focusing more on interaction and response than on time spent with the baby.
What are multiple attachments?
Attachments towards two or more people.
What is separation anxiety?
The distress a child shows when an adult (attachment figure) leaves the room.
What is stranger anxiety?
The response of a child to an unfamiliar adult.
What is the asocial phase in Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of attachment?
The first few weeks where infants respond similarly to humans and objects, showing attraction to humans from about 6 weeks.
What occurs during the indiscriminate attachment phase?
From 2 to 7 months, infants begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people, smiling more at familiar ones.
What characterizes the specific attachment phase?
Around 7 months, infants develop specific attachments, showing separation anxiety and distress around strangers.
What happens in the multiple attachment phase?
From about 8 months onwards, strong additional ties are formed with other caregivers and non-caregivers.
What was the objective of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
To investigate the formation of early attachments in infants and the developmental sequence of attachment behaviors.
Who were the participants in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
60 infants (31 boys and 29 girls) from working-class families in Glasgow, studied longitudinally over the first 18 months.
What methodology was used in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
Mothers were interviewed monthly about their infants’ reactions in everyday situations, specifically when leaving the room.
What were the key findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
Attachments formed between 6-8 months, with strong attachments typically to the primary caregiver, coinciding with separation anxiety.
What is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson’s research?
It has good external validity.
What is a counterpoint to Schaffer and Emerson’s research?
Even if babies behaved naturally, their behavior may not have been accurately recorded.
What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson’s stages?
The validity of the measures used to assess attachment in the asocial stage, suggesting babies may be more social than recorded.
What is a real-world application of Schaffer and Emerson’s stages?
They have practical application in daycare, allowing parents to plan based on the stages.
