Schaffer’s 4 Stages of Attachment

Question 1

What is the 1st Stage of Attachment??

Answer 1

The Asocial Stage

Question 2

When does the Asocial Stage take place?

Answer 2

In the first few weeks of an infant’s life

Question 3

What are the characteristics of the Asocial Stage?

Answer 3

There is little difference in the infant’s behaviour** towards inanimate objects and humans**, though there are some signs they prefer people- especially familiar people

Question 4

What is the 2nd Stage of attachment?

Answer 4

Indiscriminate Attachment

Question 5

When does Indiscriminate Attachment take place?

Answer 5

Between 2-7 months

Question 6

What are the characteristics of Indiscriminate Attachment?

Answer 6

The infant’s behaviour indicates that they prefer to be with people, and they tend to accept comfort and physical contact from anyone. However, there are signs that they recognise and prefer familiar people

Question 7

What is the 3rd Stage of Attachment?

Answer 7

Specific Attachment

Question 8

When does Specific Attachment take place?

Answer 8

Around 7 months

Question 9

What are the characteristics of Specific Attachment?

Answer 9

The infant displays classic signs of attachment behaviour (e.g., separation anxiety and proximity-seeking) towards the primary caregiver

Question 10

In what percentage of cases does the mother take on the role of primary caregiver?

Answer 10

65%

Question 11

What is the 4th Stage of attachment?

Answer 11

Multiple Attachments

Question 12

When does Multiple Attachments take place?

Answer 12

Typically by 1 year

Question 13

What are the characteristics of Multiple Attachments?

Answer 13

The infant extends their attachment behaviour to multiple people

Question 14

Who is the primary caregiver?

Answer 14

The person who is most responsive to the babies signals

Question 15

What are later attachments that follow the infant’s attachment to their primary caregiver known as?

Answer 15

Secondary attachments

Question 16

How many Stages of Attachment did Schaffer identify?

Answer 16

4

Question 17

In order, what the 4 Stages of Attachment identified by Schaffer?

Answer 17

• The Asocial Stage
• Indiscriminate Attachment
• Specific Attachment
• Multiple Attachments

Question 18

Describe Emerson & Schaffer’s Study into the 4 Stages of Attachment

Answer 18

• They studied 60 babies at monthly intervals for the first 18 months of their lives
• Their interactions with their caregivers were observed and the carers were interviewed
• The caregivers kept a diary to detail the attachment behaviour exhibited by their babies (e.g. stranger anxiety, separation anxiety, secure base behaviour)
• From this, Schaffer identified 4 distinct stages of attachment

Question 19

What is Emerson & Schaffer’s Study into the 4 Stages of Attachment high in?

Answer 19

External validity and ecological validity, as observations were made by caregivers (a familiar person) in a natural, home environment

Question 20

What was the experimental design of Emerson & Schaffer’s Study into the 4 Stages of Attachment and how does this increase its validity?

Answer 20

Longitudinal design, meaning it reduces the chance of individual differences acting as a confounding variable, as the same infants were followed as they progressed through each stage

Question 21

What is one practical application of Schaffer’s Stages of Attachment?

Answer 21

It can help parents identify when is the best time for infants to start nursery with an unfamiliar adult, therefore aiding parents to make informed decisions and reducing infant stress

Question 22

Why has Schaffer & Emerson’s Study into the Stages of Attachment been criticised? (2 Points)

Answer 22

• Due to the caregivers dual-role as an observer, increasing the risk of bias and inaccuracies
• Lack of generalisability, as it only studied infants from individualistic cultures in the same area of the UK

Question 23

What study contradicts Schaffer’s Stages of Attachment and why?

Answer 23

Van Ljzendoorn’s meta-analysis, which found that multiple attachments can appear first, especially in collectivistic cultures