Stages of attachment - A03

Question 1

What is a PECS (strength) of stages of attachment?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = ecologcial validity in S+E study
• E: Highly likely that babies behaved naturally so results are accurate to real life (most observations carried out by parents - no researcher to distract/distress baby)
• C: However, caregivers are unlikely to be objective, particularly in measures of anxiety
• S: So… behaviour may be natural but not accurately recorded
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Question 2

One evaluation extra included

What are two limitations of stages of attachment?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = poor evidence for asocial stage (first stage)
• E: Such young babies mostly immoble; can only observe small gestures and subtle changes in expressions
• E: Movements may just be random and difficult for mothers to observe and report back on
• L: So babies in first stage may have social attachments, but appear asocial
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• P: Limitation = S & E study lacks external validity
• E: Only one sample of working class Glasgow in the 1960s
• E: Research has shown many cultural differences in when multiple attachments form (van IJzendoorn, 1993)
• L: So results may not be generalisble to other contexts

Question 3

What is a strength of stages of attachment?

Answer 3

• P: Strength = real world application
• E: Stages of attachment model tells us that babies are likely to show little distress in asocial and indiscriminate stages
• E: Practical implications for daycare; indicates it should start before baby forms specific attachment
• L: So… childcare can be planned using Schaffer and Emerson’s stages