Stages of Attachment | Schaffer & Emerson | AQA Psychology

Summary

In this Verity Mind video, we delve into Schaefer's four stages of attachment in a child's first year. Through a longitudinal study of 60 infants, Schaefer and Emerson observed attachment behaviors from six weeks to 18 months. The stages include: a social (0-6 weeks), indiscriminate attachment (6 weeks-7 months), specific attachment (7-9 months), and multiple attachments (10 months-18 months). The study's ecological validity is a strength, but limitations include self-report reliance and a potentially non-representative sample. The applicability of these stages across cultures is also questioned.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Schaefer and Peggy Emerson identified four stages of attachment in the first year of life.
• 👶 The first stage, 'a social stage', occurs from birth to six weeks where infants can form bonds with anyone, including inanimate objects.
• 👫 The second stage, 'indiscriminate attachment', happens between six weeks to seven months, where infants prefer human interaction but are still open to strangers.
• 🤗 At seven to nine months, infants enter the 'discriminate or specific attachment' stage, forming strong bonds with primary caregivers and showing anxiety with separation.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Around 10 months to 18 months, infants develop 'multiple attachments', forming bonds with various individuals like grandparents and siblings.
• 🧐 Schaefer's research was longitudinal, observing 60 infants from working-class families in Glasgow over a period of 18 months.
• 📊 Attachment was measured through separation anxiety and stranger distress, indicating the formation of an attachment.
• 🏡 The study's strength lies in its ecological validity, as observations took place in the natural setting of the families' homes.
• ⚖️ A limitation of the research is the reliance on self-report data from caregivers, which can be subject to bias.
• 🌐 The sample was limited to one social class and geographical area, which may not represent attachment behaviors in other cultures.
• 🌐 Schaefer's stages may not apply universally, as attachment patterns can vary significantly across different cultures.

Q & A

What are the four stages of attachment identified by Schaefer and Emerson?

The four stages of attachment identified by Schaefer and Emerson are: 1) Indiscriminate attachment (0-6 weeks), 2) Discriminate attachment (6 weeks to 7 months), 3) Specific attachment (7-9 months), and 4) Multiple attachment (approximately 10 months to 18 months).

How did Schaefer and Emerson measure attachment in their study?

They measured attachment through separation anxiety and stranger distress. Separation anxiety was indicated if the baby showed anxiety when the caregiver left, while stranger distress was shown if the baby was distressed when approached by someone unfamiliar.

What is the significance of the 'a social stage' in Schaefer's theory?

The 'a social stage' (0-6 weeks) signifies that infants can form bonds with anyone, including inanimate objects, and do not yet show a preference for specific individuals.

At what age do infants typically begin to show signs of separation anxiety according to Schaefer's research?

Infants typically begin to show signs of separation anxiety at around 25 to 32 weeks of age, which is approximately six to eight months.

What is the difference between indiscriminate and specific attachment in Schaefer's theory?

In the indiscriminate attachment stage (6 weeks to 7 months), infants prefer human company and seek social interaction with familiar adults but are still responsive to strangers. In the specific attachment stage (7-9 months), infants form strong bonds with particular individuals, usually their primary caregivers, and show anxiety when separated from them or when approached by strangers.

How does the multiple attachment stage differ from the previous stages?

In the multiple attachment stage (approximately 10 months to 18 months), infants form attachments with multiple individuals, not just their primary caregivers. They can tolerate brief separations from their primary caregiver but still rely on them for emotional support.

What was the sample size and demographic of Schaefer and Emerson's study?

The study observed a sample of 60 infants from working-class families in Glasgow, with regular intervals between the ages of six weeks and 18 months.

What is the ecological validity of Schaefer and Emerson's research, and why is it significant?

The ecological validity is high because the observations took place in the families' own homes, which is a natural setting and more likely to reflect everyday behaviors than a controlled laboratory setting.

What are some limitations of Schaefer and Emerson's study?

Limitations include the use of self-report data from caregivers which may be subject to interpretation and socially desirable answers, and the sample being from the same social class and area, which may not be representative of other families or cultures.

How might Schaefer's stages of attachment not be applicable to all cultures?

Schaefer's stages may not be applicable to all cultures because the study was conducted with infants from working-class families in Glasgow, Scotland, and different cultural contexts may have different patterns of attachment, such as multiple caregivers being the norm from the beginning.

What is the implication of Schaefer's stages of attachment for the role of fathers?

The implication is that fathers might not always be the primary attachment figure but can still play a significant role in a child's development. The next video will explore the role of fathers in more detail.