Development of attachment

Question 1

Who researched into the development?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson {1964}

Question 2

What did Schaffer and Emerson do? - procedure

Answer 2

• Studied 60 infants from working class families in Glasgow.
• The infants were visited at home by a researcher every month for a year and then again at 18 months.
• At each visit, the researcher interviewed the mother about how their infant responded to seperation and how the infant responded to unfamiliar people.

Question 3

What did Schaffer and Emerson find?

Answer 3

• Used the findings to construct a description on how attachment develops.
• Their findings suggest that there are 4 stages in the development of attachment.

Question 4

What are the 4 stages of developement?

Answer 4

• Asocial
• Indiscriminate attachment
• Specific attachment
• Multiple attachment

Question 5

What is Asocial?

Answer 5

• 0-2 months
• Infants produce a similar response to all objects whether they are human or non-human.
• infants begin to show a preference for human company.

Question 6

What is indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 6

• 2-7 months
• Infants can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people.
• Infants accept comfort from any adult.
• Do not display seperation or stranger anxiety

Question 7

What is specific attachment?

Answer 7

• 7 months onwards
• Infants now have formed an attachment bond to one person –> the primary attachment figure.
• Start to display anxiety

Question 8

What is Multiple attachment?

Answer 8

• 9 months onwards
• Infant develops a wider attachment circle
• Infant displays seperation anxiety in these relationships.