Stages of Attachment

• How long does it take for babies to form their first attachments?

  7 to 8 months
• What did Schaffer and Emerson identify about infant attachment?

  Infants go through stages of attachment
• What were the key components of Schaffer and Emerson's study methodology?

  • Participants: 60 infants (31 male, 29 female)
  • Location: Working class families in Glasgow
  • Procedure: Longitudinal observations over 18 months
  • Observations every 4 weeks for the first year
  • Measured Separation Anxiety and Stranger Anxiety
  • Caregivers interviewed about infants' responses
• What were the two types of anxiety measured in the study?

  Separation Anxiety and Stranger Anxiety
• What are the stages of attachment identified by Schaffer and Emerson?

  1. Asocial Stage (0-6 weeks)
  2. Indiscriminate Stage (6 weeks - 7 months)
  3. Specific Attachment (7-9 months)
  4. Multiple Attachments (10+ months)
• What characterizes the Asocial Stage of attachment?

  Infants show little preference for people
• What happens during the Indiscriminate Stage of attachment?

  Infants prefer human interaction without strong attachments
• What is the Specific Attachment stage characterized by?

  Infants develop strong attachments to one primary caregiver
• What occurs during the Multiple Attachments stage?

  Infants form attachments to other caregivers
• What percentage of infants had their mother as the primary caregiver?

  65%
• What percentage of infants formed their primary attachment with someone other than the mother?

  39%
• What factor influences the formation of attachments in infants?

  Caregiver sensitivity rather than time spent
• By what age do most infants have multiple attachments?

  18 months
• What are the conclusions drawn from Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  • Attachment develops in stages
  • Specific attachments form around 7 months
  • Primary attachment is based on responsiveness
  • Multiple attachments are common
  • Fathers can be primary attachment figures
• What is a problem with the asocial stage in Schaffer and Emerson's theory?

  It is difficult to study due to immobility
• What is a weakness regarding conflicting evidence from different cultures?

  It complicates the applicability of the theory
• Why is it difficult to assess multiple attachments?

  Distress does not confirm true attachment
• What is a limitation of the sample used in Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  It was biased and not generalizable
• How does the uneven gender distribution in the study affect its findings?

  It limits generalizability to other populations