Stages of attachment

Question 1

Who researched the stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Question 2

Method and findings

Answer 2

• 60 babies (31 M, 29 F) from Glaswegian working class families aged between 5-23 weeks
• Visited at home once a month for 12 months and again at 18 months
• Interviewed about separation/stranger anxiety
• At 25-32 weeks 50% showed separation anxiety to specific adult, 40 weeks - 80% had specific attachment + 30% had multiple attachments

Question 3

What are the stages of attachment?

Answer 3

1. Asocial stages (first weeks)
2. Indiscriminate (2-6 months)
3. Specific (7-12 months)
4. Multiple (1+ years)

Question 4

Describe asocial stage

Answer 4

• Similar response to objects and people
• Happier in presence of other humans
• Some preference for familiar adults

Question 5

Describe indiscriminate stage

Answer 5

• Preference for human company over inanimate objects
• More social behaviour
• Accept comfort from any skilled adult
• No stranger/separation anxiety

Question 6

Describe specific stage

Answer 6

• Separation and stranger anxiety
• Specific attachment to primary caregiver
• Seek comfort/protection from one particular caregiver + shows joy upon reunion

Question 7

Describe multiple attachment stage

Answer 7

• Attachment behaviour directed beyond primary caregiver
• Formation of secondary attachments

Question 8

Evaluation points

Answer 8

+ Real world application: by highlighting normal stages of development, abnormalities can be recognised -> intervention

+ Good external validity: studied at home by mothers: natural behaviour

• Methodological issues: could display anxiety in subtle ways -> could appear asocial when social
• Van Ijzendoorn: culturally specific - collectivists form multiple attachments much earlier