schaffers stages of attachment

outline study for stages of attachment + state researchers names

SCHAFFER and EMERSON - longitudinal study to investigate: the age which infants form attachments & who with

procedure: pps was 60 babies and their mothers from Glasgow

-researchers visited them every month for the first year and then at 18months and asked mothers about their childs’

>stranger anxiety = how child reacts when an unfamiliar person entered the room

>separation anxiety = how child reacts when mother leaves room

findings: proposed 4 stages of attachment

what are the 4 stages of attachment

AISP (alone interested special many)

asocial 0-6weeks

indiscriminate 6weeks-7months

specific 7months-9months

multiple 9months-onward

how does an infant behave during each stage

asocial - behave in similar ways towards humans and objects e.g. smile to both however tend to be happier in presence of humans

indiscriminate - accept comfort from any adult but can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar adults so will smile more to familiar adults

specific - begin to experience stranger and separation anxiety and show preference for one particular caregiver e.g. mother

multiple - start to form secondary attachments with other familiar caregivers e.g. grandparents

strength weakness weakness

:) fundamental understanding about the patterns of stages baby’s attachment has helped inform parents about when is appropriate to send children to day care e.g. asocial and indiscriminate is fine but at specific may want to stay more time with them - form primary attachment

:( low temporal validity study took place in 1960s meaning parenting styles are likely to have changed since & low population validity sample 60 babies and mothers from Glasgow, individualistic whereas collectivist multiple attachments form earlier, fidnings lack generaliseability

:( unreliable stages - although supporting research same standardised interview the answers were based on observations mothers made of their childs’ behaviour, they might all interpret behaviour differently leading to subjective or biased answers