PAPER 1 - ATTACHMENT - stages of attachment/ role of the father Flashcards
What is Schaffer and Emerson’s first stage in their theory of the development of attachment?
- birth-2 months - indiscriminate (asocial) attachments
- similar response to all objects, greater preference to people at end of stage, interactional synchrony and reciprocity playing a role in developing attachments
What is Schaffer and Emerson’s second stage of the development of attachment?
- 2-4 months - beginnings of attachment/indiscriminate
- seek attention from a number of people
- no stranger anxiety
What is Schaffer and Emerson’s third stage of the development of attachment?
- 4-7 months - discriminate/specific attachment
- typically develop strong attachment to one person showing separation protest & stranger anxiety
What is Schaffer and Emerson’s 4th stage of attachment?
- 7-9 months - multiple attachments
- strong emotional ties with other carers develop
- secondary attachments form (siblings)
what was the study of Schaffer and Emerson called?
the glasgow babies
what was the procedure of Schaffer and Emersons study?
- longitudinal study of 60 babies (working class Glasgow)
- start of investigation, babies were from 5-23 weeks old
- infants studies until 1
- mothers were visited every 4 weeks and mother reported their infants response to 7 everyday situations (asked to describe intensity of protest
- mothers had to say who protest was directed
what were the findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
- between 25-32 weeks of age, 50% babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards particular adult
- attachment tended to be caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive, not necessarily who spent most time with
- between 40 weeks, 80% had specific attachment & 30% displayed multiple attachments
what conclusions can be made from Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
they developed the stages of attachment theory
Why might Schaffer and Emerson’s study have a BIASED SAMPLE?
- Temporal validity/bias (1960’s)
- Only working class families- one social group, population validity
- Cultural bias (individualistic and collectivist culture)
What is another social problem with Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
doesnt allow for individual differences
Why might Schaffer and Emerson’s study be UNRELIABLE?
1) Social desirability bias
2) Subjective opinions to babies actions (internal validity)
What were Schaffer and Emerson’s findings about father-infant relationships?
Father’s were less likely to be the primary attachment figure due to them being around the infant less
Who counter argued Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
Lamb- Reported that there was little relationship between father accessibility and infant-father attachment
What two factors might affect father-infant attachment?
1) Biology (lack of oestrogen)
2) Cultural expectations (feminine to stay at home and care)
What did Frank and Frodi individually find?
- Frank found fathers could be primary attachment, but biological & social factors discourage it,
- Frodi found that there was no physiological difference between men & women’s reactions to a crying infant video
