Research into stages of attachment

    Cards (3)

    • Schaffer and Emersons research
      AIM
      > To investigate the formation of early attachments, the age at which they develop and who they are directed to
      PROCEDURE
      > Longitudinal study on 60 working class newborn infants and their mothers from glasgow
      > Visited every month for the first year and then again at 18 months
      > Observations and interviews conducted with the mothers
    • Schaffer and Emersons research
      > Attachment was measured in two ways
      • Separation anxiety - assessed by the infant being left alone in a room, or the researcher asking the mother how the infant reacts in this instance
      • Stranger anxiety - assessed by the researcher starting each home visit by approaching the infant to see if this distressed the child
      > Researchers asked the mothers questions such as who the infants smiled at
    • Schaffer and Emersons research
      FINDINGS
      1. Asocial - Infants behaviour to adults and inanimate objects was similar.
      2. Indiscriminate - Infants show a preference to people over inanimate objects but usually do not show stranger or separation anxiety
      3. Around 7 months infants start to form attachments and show separation and strangers anxiety when separated - 65% with mother
      4. Multiple - By 1 year most infants had multiple attachments. At 18 months, 75% of children had an attachment with their father.
      > CONCLUSION - Infants form attachments in stages, multiple attachments can be formed
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