Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
STAGES OF ATTACHMENT - Coggle Diagram
STAGES OF ATTACHMENT
Shaffer's longitudinal study
He carried out an
observation
of 60 infants
These infants were
observed every 4 weeks
until they were
1 year old
and then again at
18 months
Their results showed that infants go through
4 distinct stages at attachment
Responsiveness
- appeared to be the key to attachment - intensely attached infants had mothers who responded quickly to their demands + interacted with their child
ONLY BASED ON SCOTTISH WORKING CLASS CHILDREN
This demonstrates sample bias
It is difficult to generalise these results to the wider population as we are unsure if we would get the same result if we conducted the same study on a different culture/class
Therefore, the study lacks external validity of the stages as a concept
Asocial stage
0-6 weeks
very young babies produce a favourable reaction
e.g. a smile to humans + non humans
Baby isn't predisposed to a particular caregiver + babies respond equally to all caregivers
Reciprocity and interactional synchrony are important during this stage
Indiscriminate stage
6 weeks - 7 months
Infants enjoy human company
They get upset when an individual stops interacting with them
From 3 months - they smile at at more familiar faces + comforted easily by a regular caregiver
Accept cuddles from everyone - don't show stranger/separation anxiety yet
Specific attachment stage
7 months - 9 months
Look for a particular adult for security
Express protest when separated from primary attachment figure - 65% of the time this is the mother
Attach to the most sensitive person - not just who spends the most time with them
Infants show stranger anxiety
Multiple attachment stage
From 10 months - children begin to attach to others
By 18 months majority of infants have formed multiple attachments
29% had secondary attachments within a month of forming a primary attachment
THERE ARE ISSUES WITH OBSERVING BEHAVIOURS DURING THE ASOCIAL STAGE
Infants in this stage are very young + have poor coordination
They are also pretty immobile - so there isn't much observable behaviour at this stage
This means that any observable behaviours may just be general activity instead of attachment behaviours
Practical application in day care
Babies are cared for outside of their home by a non-family adult
In the asocial + indiscriminate attachment stages day car is likely to be straightforward as babies can be comforted by any skilled adult
However, Schaffer + Emerson's research tells us that day care especially starting day care with an unfamiliar adult may be problematic during the specific attachment stage
This means that parents' use of day care can be planned using Schaffer + Emerson's stages
Shaffer + Emerson = Good external validity
Most of the observations were made by parents during ordinary activities + reported to the researchers
The alternative would have to be the researchers present to record the observations
This might have distracted the babies/made them feel more anxious
This means that it is highly likely that the participants behaved naturally whilst being observed