Stages of Attatchment (AO1) Flashcards
Who researched the stages of attachment?
Schaffer & Emerson
What were the Aims of S + E ‘s research?
to assess whether there’s a pattern of attachment formation common to all infants
+
to identify distinct stages by which attachments form
What were the Procedures of S + E ‘s research?
60 newborn babies and their mothers - families from a working class area of Glasgow
+
conducted observations as well as interviews w the mothers
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interview questions like “Who does the baby smile at?” “Who causes the baby distress?”
What were the Measures of attachment in S + E ‘s research?
attachment was measured in 2 ways:
- separation anxiety
- stranger anxiety
What is Separation Anxiety?
being upset when the caregiver leaves
What is Stranger Anxiety?
being upset when a stranger enters + is not comforted by the stranger
What was the Findings of S + E ‘s research?
(general findings)
attachment behaviour develops in stages loosely linked to age
+
strongly attached infants had mothers who responded to their needs quickly + had more interaction
What was the Findings of S + E ‘s research?
(% of attachments)
65% first attached to their mothers
3% to their father
39% NOT to person who fed/spent most time with infant
at 18 months:
87% had at least 2 attachments
31% had 5+
What were the Conclusions of S + E ‘s research?
there is a pattern of attachment formation common to all infants, suggesting the process is biologically controlled
+
attachments are made with those displaying sensitive responsiveness, recognising/ responding to the infant’s needs
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multiple attachments are the norm + of similar quality (opposing B’s monotropic theory)
GRAVE?
G :( only working class mothers from Glasgow
R :) been replicated many times
A :) can tell mothers when is best to send children to nursery
V :) good ecological validity - natural
E :) no harm to the child
What is the age range of the first stage of attachment?
0-6 weeks
What is the first stage of attachment?
pre-attachment/ asocial stage:
- babies produce similar responses to all people
- babies behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is quite similar
- show some preference for familiar adults
- happier when in the presence of humans
What is the age range of the second stage of attachment?
6 weeks - 7 months
What is the second stage of attachment?
indiscriminate attachment:
- babies become more social
- show a preference for people over objects now
- recognise + prefer familiar adults
- accept comfort off of anyone
- don’t show separation/stranger anxiety
What is the age range of the third stage of attachment?
7-9 months
What is the third stage of attachment?
discriminate/specific attachment:
- child is primarily attached to the main caregiver
- babies begin to show separation/stranger anxiety
- baby looks for particular people for security, comfort + protection
What is the age range of the fourth stage of attachment?
10 months onwards
What is the fourth stage of attachment?
multiple attachments:
- multiple attachments follow soon after the first attachment is made
- baby shows attachment behaviours towards several different people (secondary attachments) e.g. siblings, grandparents etc.
