Stages of attachment

• What is the first stage of attachment?

  Asocial

  • first few weeks (0-8)
  • baby's behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is quite similar
  • babies show some preference for familiar adults in that those individuals find it easier to calm them
• What is the second stage of attachment?

  Indiscriminate attachment

  • 2-7 months
  • more observable social behaviour
  • preference for people over inanimate objects
  • recognise and prefer familiar adults
  • usually accepts comfort from any adult
  • no separation anxiety/stranger anxiety
• What is the third stage of attachment?

  Specific attachment

  • from 7 months
  • stranger anxiety
  • separation anxiety when separated from specific attachment
  • specific attachment = primary attachment figure = the person who offers the most interaction and responds to signals the most
• What is the forth stage of attachment?

  Multiple attachments

  • from 12 months
  • attachment to more than one adult
  • attached to adults who they regularly spend time with
  • form quite quickly after specific attachment
• How did Shaffer conduct his stages of attachment study?

  -60 babies from Glasgow, all from skilled working class families

  -babies were visited at home every month for the first year, and again at 18 months

  -researchers used interviews to ask mothers questions on baby's attachment

  -they measured stranger anxiety
• What were the findings of Shaffer's attachment study?

  -between 25 and 32 weeks, 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards their specific attachment

  -by 40 weeks, 80% had a specific attachment, and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments

  -attachments tended to be to the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to signals and facial expressions (reciprocity)
• What are the evaluative points for Shaffer's attachment study?

  -naturalistic observation:

  • good ecological validity (can be generalised)
  • low internal validity

  -overt observation

  • more ethical
  • demand characteristics

  -interviews

  • social desirability bias from mothers