Schafer's Stages Of Attachment

Question 1

What are the four stages?

Answer 1

Asocial
Indiscriminate attachment
Specific attachment
Multiple attachments

Question 2

How long was the Asocial stage

Answer 2

0-6 weeks

Question 3

What was the Asocial stage

Answer 3

• Babies display innate behaviors (crying/smiling) that ensure proximity to any potential caregiver
• display behaviors to non-human objects and anyone can comfort them - no preference yet

Question 4

How long is the indiscriminate attachment stage

Answer 4

6 weeks - 7 months

Question 5

What is the indiscriminate attachment stage

Answer 5

• Develop ability to tell difference between humans and objects and between familiar and unfamiliar individuals - smile at people they see more frequently
• no stranger or separation anxiety

Question 6

How long is the specific attachment stage?

Answer 6

7-9months

Question 7

What is the specific attachment stage

Answer 7

Babies form strong attachment to primary caregiver (often mother) and develop separation and stranger anxiety

Question 8

How long is the multiple attachments stage

Answer 8

9/10+ months

Question 9

What is the multiple attachments stage

Answer 9

Infant starts to form attachments with other regular caregivers (fathers, grandparents, siblings), and stranger anxiety starts to decrease

Question 10

What kind of observation was Schaffer and Emerson (1964) study

Answer 10

Longitudinal observation

Question 11

What was Schaffer and Emerson’s 1964 study?

Answer 11

• 60 working class babies and families from Glasgow
• 1st year - data collected with monthly observations and interviews, with additional follow up visit at 18 months
  Assessed separation and stranger anxiety

Question 12

What were Schaffer and Emerson’s findings?

Answer 12

• Separation anxiety most babies at 25-32 weeks and stranger anxiety a month later
• 18 month follow up - 87% had multiple attachments and strongest attachment to mother
• results suggest development occurs in stages, biologically influenced process

Question 13

AO3 Strength - point

Answer 13

S+E study has useful practical applications

Question 14

AO3 Strength - evidence

Answer 14

For example, babies in child care in early stages (asocial, indiscriminate) can be comforted by any skilled adult

Question 15

AO3 Limitation - point

Answer 15

S+E study results may have been affected by social desirability bias

Question 16

AO3 Limitation - evidence

Answer 16

Interviewed mothers may have reported inaccurate details about their child in order to appear like a ‘better’ mother with secure attachments