3 Attachment- Stages of Attachment

Question 1

who proposed the stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Question 2

how did Schaffer and Emerson define attachment?

Answer 2

the tendency of the young to seek the proximity of other members of the species

Question 3

what was the Glaswegian Babies Study?

Answer 3

they took a sample of 60 babies from Glasgow, majority from working-class families to investigate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety

Question 4

what type of study was the Glaswegian Babies Study?

Answer 4

longitudinal (studied up to 18 months of age)
-they used observations and interviews, asking mothers questions about what protest their babies showed in 7 everyday separation tasks.

Question 5

findings of the Glaswegian Babies Study: 25-32 weeks

Answer 5

50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult (usually mother, specific attachment to primary attachment figure)

Question 6

findings of the Glaswegian Babies Study:
when was attachment strongest?

Answer 6

when lots of interactions and sensitivity was shown with the caregiver and infant, displaying reciprocity

Question 7

findings of the Glaswegian Babies Study: 6 months

Answer 7

80% of babies had a specific attachment
30% displayed multiple attachments

Question 8

what can we conclude from the Glaswegian Babies Study?

Answer 8

-attachment must have a biologically controlled aspect to it
-the more sensitive a caregiver is to their infant, the stronger and more secure attachment that will form

Question 9

how many stages of attachment did S+E propose?

Answer 9

4 stages

Question 10

what is stage 1 of attachment?

Answer 10

ASOCIAL STAGE
-not social, but recognise the presence of humans and are happier when humans are present.

Question 11

duration for stage 1 of attachment?

Answer 11

0-8 weeks
0-2 months

Question 12

what is stage 2 of attachment?

Answer 12

INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT
-display more observable social behaviour
-no preference shown, just prefer people over objects

Question 13

duration for stage 2 of attachment

Answer 13

2-7 months

Question 14

what is stage 3 of attachment?

Answer 14

SPECIFIC ATTACHMENT
-they begin to display stranger and separation anxiety
-primary attachment figure is formed, show separation anxiety when figure leaves
-this is due to good interactions and responsiveness to signals given by the infant

Question 15

duration for stage 3 of attachment

Answer 15

7-12 months

Question 16

what is stage 4 of attachment?

Answer 16

MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS
-attachments are formed with multiple people, with whom they regularly spend time with
-secondary attachments are formed to other caregivers

Question 17

duration for stage 4 of attachment

Answer 17

8-9/ a year onwards

Question 18

A03 Stages of Attachment
strength (application)

Answer 18

useful practical applications have been generated from this research
-it gives parents an outline for expected stages that infants will go through during their social and emotional development when attaching
-as a result, they can identify issues with development, seek support, learn strategies etc to ensure strong attachments are formed
however, this can be socially sensitive (parents feel guilty or pressured to stick to these stages)
-therefore, this research has provided useful applications for parents when infants are attaching and developing (use as a guideline)

Question 19

A03 Stages of Attachment
limitation (issue with studying asocial stage)

Question 20

A03 Stages of Attachment
limitation (unclear when multiple attachments are formed) + ethnocentric

Question 21

A03 Stages of Attachment
limitation (hard to know when a true attachment figure is formed)