A01

• State the 4 stages of attachment

  1. Asocial (birth -> 2 months)

  2. Indiscriminate attachments (2 months -> 6 months)

  3. Discriminate attachments (7 months -> 12 months)

  4. Multiple attachments (1 year onwards)
• Describe the asocial stage

  - Infant shows similar responses to objects and people
• Describe the indiscriminate attachments stage

  - Infant shows preference for human company over non-human company

  - Can distinguish between humans but comforted by anyone (no stranger anxiety)
• Describe the discriminate (specific) attachments stage

  - Infant shows preference for one caregiver and shows separation and stranger anxiety

  - Show joy upon reunion and comforted by primary caregiver
• Describe the multiple attachments stage

  - Form attachments with several different people (siblings, grandparents etc.) -> secondary attachments
• Which study showed support for the stages of attachment?

  Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
• Describe the procedure of the Schaffer and Emerson study (1964)

  - Studied 60 babies from Glasgow, working class families

  - Babies and mothers visited at home every month for 1st year and at 18 months.

  - Mothers asked about separation and stranger anxiety
• Describe the findings of Schaffer and Emerson

  - 50% babies showed separation anxiety to usually the mother at 25-32 weeks

  - 40 weeks: 80% had specific attachment, 30% had multiple attachments
• What is an issue with the sample used in the Schaffer and Emerson study?

  It is not representative of the wider population - families all from Glasgow and working class
• State another issue with the Schaffer and Emerson study other than the unrepresentative sample

  It was carried out in the 1960s and a lot has changed since this time