Stages of Attachment and Multiple Attachments

• What is the definition of stages of attachment?

  Linked to ages with specific stages observed
• What are multiple attachments in the context of attachment theory?

  Bonds with multiple people after primary attachment
• Who conducted the key study on attachment in 1964?

  Schaffer and Emerson
• What was the procedure of Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  Studied 60 babies from Glasgow homes
• How often did researchers visit the babies in the study?

  Monthly visits for the first year
• What two types of anxiety were assessed in the study?

  Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
• At what age did 50% of babies show specific attachment?

  25-32 weeks
• What percentage of babies had specific attachment by 40 weeks?

  80%
• What percentage of babies had multiple attachments by 40 weeks?

  30%
• What conclusion was drawn from Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  Attachments develop in stages
• What are Schaffer’s stages of attachment formation?

  1. Asocial Phase (Birth – 3 months)

  • Prefer humans to objects
  • Smile more at faces

  1. Indiscriminate Attachment (3 – 7 months)

  • Recognise familiar faces
  • Accept comfort from any adult
  • Treat all adults equally

  1. Specific Attachment (7 – 8 months)

  • Form attachment to one adult
  • Display separation and stranger anxiety

  1. Multiple Attachments (9 months onwards)

  • Attachments with other caregivers
  • Secondary attachments form (e.g. grandparents)
• What is a weakness regarding conflicting evidence on multiple attachments?

  Primary attachment before others is disputed
• What evidence challenges the idea of primary attachment formation?

  Cross-cultural research shows multiple attachments common
• What is a problem with measuring attachment in infants?

  Difficult to measure early behaviours accurately
• What effect does the difficulty in measuring attachment have on findings?

  Reduces validity of findings
• What is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson's study regarding external validity?

  Conducted in naturalistic family settings
• How does the naturalistic setting affect the study's findings?

  Reduces observer influence and increases validity
• What is a weakness regarding the generalisability of the study's findings?

  Limited to working-class Glasgow families
• What effect does the study's limited sample have on its conclusions?

  Cannot generalise to all cultures
• How might collectivist cultures differ in attachment patterns?

  They may have multiple attachments from birth