stages of attachment

Question 1

Who created stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson

Question 2

Describe Schaffer and Emerson’s procedure

Answer 2

60 Glaswegian babies
Visited every month for a year
Again at 18 months
Asked about separation protests
Assessed separation and stranger anxiety

Question 3

Describe Schaffer and Emerson’s findings

Answer 3

Between 25 and 32 weeks - 50% showed separation anxiety towards a certain adult
Specific attachment
Attachment to most interactive caregiver
40 weeks - 80% has specific attachment
30% multiple attachments

Question 4

What are the 4 stages of attachment?

Answer 4

Asocial stage
Indiscriminate attachment
Specific attachment
Multiple attachments

Question 5

What is the asocial stage?

Answer 5

Baby forming bonds
Behaviour towards humans and objects is similar
Preference for familiar adults

Question 6

What is indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 6

2-7 months
Preference for familiar adults
No separation or stranger anxiety

Question 7

What is specific attachment?

Answer 7

7 months
Stranger and separation anxiety
Primary attachment figure

Question 8

What is multiple attachment?

Answer 8

Secondary attachments
29% had these within a month of primary attachment
1 year - most had multiple

Question 9

Evaluation - good external validity

Answer 9

Own homes
Observation done by parents
Babies behaviour unaffected

Question 10

Evaluation - longitudinal design

Answer 10

Same children followed up
Better internal validity
No individual differences

Question 11

Evaluation - limited sample characteristics

Answer 11

Same social class and district
Over 50 years ago
Bad generalisability

Question 12

Evaluation - problem studying asocial phase

Answer 12

Not much observable behaviour
Immobile
Evidence not reliable

Question 13

Evaluation - conflicting evidence on multiple attachments

Answer 13

Some research suggests babies form specific before multiple
Van Ijzendoorn - babies form multiple attachments from outset
Cultural differences

Question 14

Evaluation - measuring multiple attachment

Answer 14

Baby being distressed when someone leaves does not mean true attachment
Bowlby - playmates as well as attachment figures
Must distinguish

Question 15

Evaluation - limited behaviour measures of attachment

Answer 15

Stranger and separation anxiety - simple behaviour - to define attachment
Critics - too crude