Stages of attachment

Question 1

Stranger Anxiety

Answer 1

response to arrival of a stranger.

Question 2

Separation Anxiety

Answer 2

distress level when separated from carer, degree of comfort needed on return.

Question 3

Social Referencing

Answer 3

degree that child looks at carer to check how they should respond to something new (secure base).

Question 4

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) aim

Answer 4

aimed to investigate the formation of early attachment, the age at which they developed, their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed

Question 5

schaffer and emerson procedure

Answer 5

-longitudinal study
-60 infants (31 male 29 female)
-glasgow
-majority working-class families
-mum and baby studied in their homes every month first year
-then again at 18 months
-used observation & interviews to analyse kids reactions when mothers naturally separated
-asked mother questions about babies in 7 situations
-assessed stranger and separation anxiety

Question 6

schaffer and emerson findings

Answer 6

-50% of babies showed separation anxiety
-had a specific attachment to primary attachment figure
-one month after attachment formed showed stranger anxiety
-showed sensitive responsiveness to who child was most attached to
-18 months 75% of the babies had shown an attachment to their father and separation anxiety between parents

Question 7

Stages of attachment findings

Answer 7

Asocial- infants show similar responses to both objects and people, smiling at anything, recognise some faces (0-8 weeks)

Indiscriminate attachment- infant begins showing preference to people, respond equally to any caregiver, smile at more familiar faces (2-7 months)

Specific attachment- infant shows a preference for one caregiver, looking to particular people for security, comfort and protection (7-12 months)

Multiple attachment- attachment behaviours are displayed towards other people- grandparents, siblings, friends (8-9 months etc)

Question 8

Schaffer and Emerson conclusions

Answer 8

Schaffer & Emerson suggest that there is a pattern of attachment common to all infants which is biologically controlled.
Specific attachments more likely to be with the mother than father
Attachments are more easily made with those who are sensitive responsive

Question 9

Schaffer and Emerson study A03

Answer 9

-High ecological validity: familiar and natural environment, observed by mothers, true to life- less demand characteristics than in unfamiliar environment
BUT
keeping a diary is a self report method very unreliable with DC and social desirability- findings may not be entirely accurate

-Low population validity: all from Glasgow working class, small sample size reduces strength of conclusions, research cannot be applied to whole population
is ethnocentric bc people from westernised culture cannot apply data among other cultures

-Poor temporal validity: carried out in 1964. family dynamics have changed and relationships, attachments today might not reflect attachments in 60s society

-Practical applications: research shows importance of forming a primary attachment. research provides understanding ways that parents can respond and care for the child in order for the child to show a strong attachment
BUT
socially sensitive- people might feel like they are failing, everyone is different might not work for everyone. research that shows what stages babies go through isn’t totally accurate to everyone