The development of attachment

Question 1

Who conducted a landmark study on the stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson

Question 2

How many infants were studied by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 2

60

Question 3

Where were Schaffer and Emerson’s infants from?

Answer 3

Glasgow

Question 4

At the start of Schaffer and Emerson’s study, what range of ages were the infants?

Answer 4

5-23 weeks

Question 5

What age did Schaffer and Emerson study their infants until?

Answer 5

1 year

Question 6

How often were the mothers visited in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 6

Every four weeks

Question 7

What behaviours were assessed during Schaffer and Emerson’s monthly visits?

Answer 7

Separation distress, intensity of protests and stranger anxiety

Question 8

How was the intensity of infant’s protests measured in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?

Answer 8

Using a 4 point scale

Question 9

What is separation anxiety?

Answer 9

The distress shown by an infant when separated from their caregiver

Question 10

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 10

The distress shown by an infant when approached by someone unfamiliar

Question 11

What is a primary attachment figure?

Answer 11

The person who has formed the closest bond with a child

Question 12

Who is typically the primary attachment figure?

Answer 12

The child’s biological mother

Question 13

What are the 4 stages of attachment?

Answer 13

Indiscriminate attachment, beginnings of attachment, discriminate attachment and multiple attachments

Question 14

What is the main characteristic of indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 14

The infant produces similar responses to all objects, both animate and inanimate

Question 15

What 2 behaviours are often displayed during the indiscriminate attachment stage?

Answer 15

Interactional synchrony and reciprocity

Question 16

What is the typical age range of indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 16

0-3 months

Question 17

What is the main characteristic of beginnings of attachment?

Answer 17

Preferring human company to inanimate objects

Question 18

What do infants not display during the beginnings of attachment?

Answer 18

Stranger anxiety

Question 19

What is the typical age range of beginnings of attachment?

Answer 19

3-7 months

Question 20

What occurs during discriminate attachment?

Answer 20

A specific attachment is formed to their primary attachment figure

Question 21

What 2 behaviours start to occur during discriminate attachment?

Answer 21

Separation distress and stranger anxiety

Question 22

What did Schaffer and Emerson notice about intensely attached infants?

Answer 22

They typically had mothers with high levels of sensitive responsiveness

Question 23

What percentage of infants had their mother as their first specific attachment?

Answer 23

65%

Question 24

What percentage of infants had their father as their first specific attachment?

Answer 24

3%

Question 25

What percentage of infants had their mother as their joint first specific attachment?

Answer 25

30%

Question 26

What percentage of infants had their father as their joint first specific attachment?

Answer 26

27%

Question 27

What is the typical age range of discriminate attachment?

Answer 27

7-9 months

Question 28

Within one month of first becoming attached, what percentage of Schaffer and Emerson's infants formed secondary attachments?

Answer 28

29%

Question 29

Within six months of first becoming attached, what percentage of Schaffer and Emerson's infants formed secondary attachments?

Answer 29

78%

Question 30

What is the typical age range of multiple attachments?

Answer 30

9 months +

Question 31

What are the 4 AO3 points of the stages of attachment?

Answer 31

1) Unreliable data 2) Biased sample 3) Cultural variations 4) Socially sensitive

Question 32

What was the data collection method of Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 32

Self-report method

Question 33

Why does Schaffer and Emerson's data lack objectivity? (2)

Answer 33

1- Some mothers were less sensitive to their infant's protests 2 - Social desirability bias

Question 34

What can be said about Schaffer + Emerson's sample?

Answer 34

It is biased

Question 35

Why is Schaffer + Emerson's sample bias in terms of social group?

Answer 35

All the children were from working-class families

Question 36

Why do Schaffer + Emerson's findings lack temporal validity?

Answer 36

The study was conducted in the 1960s - women were expected to stay home + care for the children whilst the men worked and provided - not the case anymore

Question 37

Since the 1960s, what has happened to men taking over main parenting duties?

Answer 37

It has increased by 4x

Question 38

What type of culture is Glasgow?

Answer 38

An individualist culture

Question 39

Why may Schaffer + Emerson's findings not apply to collectivist cultures?

Answer 39

It is more likely that children from collectivist cultures are more likely to form multiple attachments

Question 40

Why are Schaffer + Emerson's findings socially sensitive?

Answer 40

If an infant is not meeting the milestones, they may be classified as abnormal- this may cause parents psychological harm due to feelings of anxiety