Schaffer And Emerson (1964) Stages Of Development Flashcards
(13 cards)
Aims of Schaffer and Emerson study
To find the age which attachment starts and how intense these were.
What was Schaffer and Emerson’s study method?
- Took 60 babies from a working area of Glasgow, observing them every 4 weeks for the first year then again at 18 months.
- Interviews conducted with mothers about infants actions.
How did Schaffer and Emerson measure strength of attachment?
- Separation anxiety: how distressed the child became when separated from the main caregiver (which suggests an attachment has been formed).
- Stranger anxiety: distress shown when the child was left alone with an unfamiliar person (which suggests that the child can recognise familiar and unfamiliar people).
Findings of Schaffer and Emerson
The first specific attachment was formed by 50% of infants between 25 and 32 weeks. Intensity peaked in the first month following the onset of the first attachment.
Multiple attachments began soon after the first attachment had been formed.
By 18 months, 31% had five or more attachments.
What was Schaffer and Emerson’s conclusion.
Infants form attachments in stages, and can eventually attach to
many people. Quality of care is important in forming attachment, so
the infant may not attach to their mother if other people respond
more accurately to their signals
What are the 4 stages of attachment Schaffer and Emerson concluded?
- Asocial.
- Indiscriminate attachment.
- Specific attachment.
- Multiple attachments.
What are the Implications of Indiscriminate Attachment and when does it form.
6 weeks - 6 months.
Infant will likely accept comfort from anyone. As a babysitter, you won’t have trouble settling him, but he won’t show a strong preference for you over others.
What are implications of Specific attachment and when does it form?
About 7 months.
Forms strong attachment to primary caregiver. Shows strong separation anxiety and stranger anxiety.
What is implications of Multiple Attachments and when does it form.
Shortly after specific attachmentent stage.
Multiple attach,ents can form, including non family.
What is the implications of the Asocial Stage.
When does it form.
Forms in babies around 6 weeks.
Babaoes showmsimilar responses to object and people, don’t show preference over one or another.
Haven’t formed social preferences yet.
Positive evaluations of Schaffer and Emerson study.
Naturalistic observations, ecological validity, applicable to real world.
No demand characteristics in observations as unaware of study.
Negative evaluations of Schafer and Emerson study.
Data collected by mother prone to social desirability bias, unreliable.
Large differences between when attachments formed for different individuals. Added uncertainty.
Glasgow so not representative of whole population.
Small sample size.
what is the period when geese imprint called and when is it
13-16 hours
Critical period
