Scahfer's Stages of Attachment P1

Question 1

Outline Schafer’s Stages of Attachment Theory.

Answer 1

Pre-attachment phase:
0-3 months of age.
Baby will be friendly towards anybody and has developed no attachments while experiencing no fear of strangers.

Indiscriminate attachment:
3-7 months of age.
Baby will begin to make preferences of who they like and start making attachments particularly towards parents and close family. Still no stranger fear present.

Discriminate attachment:
7+ months of age.
Baby will develop close bonds towards figures in their life mainly parents and close family and they experience strong fear of strangers.

Multi-stage attachment:
8+ months of age.
Baby will have made strong bonds and attachment towards several people in their life while their fear of strangers has diminished and become more rational.

Question 2

Briefly list the phases of attachment.

Answer 2

Pre-attachment phase.
Indiscriminate phase.
Discriminate phase.
Multi-stage attachment phase.

Question 3

State which months of development at which each stage occurs.

Answer 3

Pre-attachment phase = 0-3 months
Indiscriminate attachment = 3-7 months
Discriminate attachment = 7-8 months
Multi-stage attachment = 9+ months

Question 4

At which stage does stranger fear diminish?

Answer 4

The multi-stage of attachment.

This is because the baby is able to discriminate more easily who may be a potential threat and they can rationalise who will help them from the strong bonds they’ve developed over time.

Question 5

At which stage is stranger fear not present?

Answer 5

The pre-attachment phase.

The child has no concept of developing bonds and doesn’t understand that a stranger could potentially harm them meaning they aren’t therefore fearful of them.

Question 6

Which phase is the most crucial for bonding to develop between the caregiver and infant?

Answer 6

The discriminate phase.

Question 7

What practical application can be used from the knowledge that caregivers and infants bond most strongly at this stage?

Answer 7

For mothers not to end maternity leave around this time as it could affect the development and bond between them and their baby which could be detrimental for the child later in life.