Stages of attachment

• What is stranger anxiety?

  Response to the arrival of a stranger
• What is separation anxiety?

  Distress level when separated from a carer
• What is a primary attachment figure?

  Most important emotional bond with caregiver
• What is a secondary attachment figure?

  Forms from spending time with the baby
• What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson's study (1964)?

  • Investigate formation of early attachments
  • Look at age of emotional intensity development
  • Identify to whom attachments are directed
• What was the method used in Schaffer and Emerson's study (1964)?

  • Studied 60 babies from Glasgow
  • Monthly visits for a year and again at 18 months
  • Mothers kept diaries and answered interview questions
• What did Schaffer and Emerson find about separation anxiety?

  50% showed signs by 25-32 weeks
• What did Schaffer and Emerson conclude about attachment development?

  Attachments develop over four stages
• What are the four stages of attachment according to Schaffer and Emerson?

  1. Asocial stage (0-6 weeks)
  2. Indiscriminate attachment (6 weeks to 6 months)
  3. Specific attachment (7 months onwards)
  4. Multiple attachments (11 months onwards)
• What happens during the asocial stage (0-6 weeks)?

  • Bond with carers begins
  • Similar behavior towards humans and objects
  • Preference for familiar adults
• What happens during the indiscriminate attachment stage (6 weeks to 6 months)?

  • Preference for people over objects
  • Recognize familiar adults
  • Accept comfort from any adult
• What happens during the specific attachment stage (7 months onwards)?

  • Anxiety towards strangers develops
  • Specific attachment to one adult, usually mother
  • Attachment formed with the most responsive adult
• What happens during the multiple attachments stage (11 months onwards)?

  • Attachment behavior extends to multiple adults
  • Secondary attachment figures develop
  • Majority of infants have multiple attachments by age 1
• What are the strengths of Schaffer and Emerson's stage theory?

  • Longitudinal design used
  • Observed infants regularly over time
  • Provides rich in-depth data
  • Reduces confounding variables
• What are the limitations of Schaffer and Emerson's research?

  • Biased sample from working-class families
  • Collected in the 1960s, lacking temporal validity
  • Limited cultural applicability
  • Difficult to interpret evidence from asocial stage
• Why is the sample of Schaffer and Emerson's study considered biased?

  It included only working-class families
• What is a limitation regarding the temporal validity of Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  Parental care has changed since the 1960s
• What cultural context challenges Schaffer and Emerson's theory?

  Collectivist cultures with multiple caregivers
• What do researchers in collectivist cultures believe about attachment formation?

  Babies form multiple attachments from the outset
• What is a limitation of the observations made during the asocial stage?

  They rely heavily on researcher interpretation
• How does the lack of objectivity in observations affect Schaffer and Emerson's conclusions?

  It limits the validity of their conclusions
• What is a limitation regarding the evidence for multiple attachments in Schaffer and Emerson's theory?

  There is refuting evidence on attachment timing
• What is the implication of Schaffer and Emerson's theory not accounting for community child-rearing?

  It may be an incomplete explanation of attachment
• What does high internal validity in a study indicate?

  It has fewer confounding variables
• What does external validity refer to in research findings?

  Applicability to various populations
• What is the significance of longitudinal studies in attachment research?

  They provide better opportunities to compare over time
• What is the main criticism of Schaffer and Emerson's findings regarding cultural differences?

  They may not apply to various cultures
• What is the role of caregivers in collectivist cultures according to the study?

  They share child-rearing responsibilities
• What is the implication of the findings from Kibbutz communities for attachment theory?

  Children may form attachments earlier than suggested
• What does the term "asocial stage" refer to in attachment theory?

  Very young infants with poor coordination
• Why is it difficult to make judgments about infants in the asocial stage?

  They are generally immobile and poorly coordinated
• What does the lack of objectivity in observations imply for attachment research?

  It may lead to unreliable conclusions
• What is the significance of the longitudinal design in Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  It allows for tracking changes over time
• How does the design of Schaffer and Emerson's study contribute to its validity?

  It reduces confounding variables among participants
• What does the term "external validity" refer to in research findings?

  Applicability to different populations
• What is the main focus of Schaffer and Emerson's attachment stages?

  Development of attachment in infants
• What is the implication of the findings from Schaffer and Emerson's study for modern parenting?

  It may not reflect current parenting practices
• What does the term "multiple attachments" refer to in attachment theory?

  Attachments formed with several caregivers
• What is the significance of the longitudinal design in attachment research?

  It provides comprehensive data over time
• How does the cultural context influence attachment formation?

  It determines the number of caregivers involved