stages of attachment Flashcards
(13 cards)
what is the first stage of attachment
asocial
what is the second stage of attachment
indiscriminate
what is the third stage of attachment
specific
what is the fourth stage of attachment
multiple
Schaffer and Emerson aim?
to investigate the formation of early attachments, in particular the age at which they developed their emotional intensity and whom they were directed
Schaffer and Emerson Procedure
- 60 infants
- From majority skilled-working class families from Glasgow
- infants and mothers visited at home every month for first year and again at 18 months
- researchers asked mothers questions about kind of response infants showed in some everyday separations
- designed to measure separation and stranger anxiety (used unfamiliar adults)
Schaffer and Emerson Findings
- 50% showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult (25-35 weeks old)
- attachment tended to be to the caregiver who was most sensitive to infants signals
Evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson
1) high external valid (parents took notes researchers not present so natural)
2) carried out longitudinally (no pps variables)
3) low population validity (all same social class + 50 yrs ago - can’t generalise to other cultures)
evaluation of stages of attachment
1) conclusions form observations of asocial stage is problematic (immobile + hard to observe)
2) conflicting evidence regarding multiple attachments (cultural differences)
3) methodological problems (measured using distress when PCG leaves room but could be equally distressed when playmate leaves
4) uses limited behavioural measure of attachment (over simplistic)
features of asocial stage
- initially produce similar responses to all objects human or not
- towards end show preference for human company
features of indiscriminate stage
- infants can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people (accept company from any adult)
- don’t show stranger or separation anxiety
features of specific stage
- form attachment bond to one person (PCG)
- 65% of primary attachment figures are the mother
features of multiple attachment stage
- develops wider circle of attachments
- within 1 month of first attachment 29% had developed multiple
- within 6 months risen to 78%
