Attachments
,Stages of Attachment:
Asocial Stage (0-6 weeks)
- Observable behaviour towards humans and objects is fairly similar
- Schaffer and Emerson don’t agree -even at this stage babies show signs prefer to
be with other people - show preference for company - baby is forming bonds
Indiscriminate ( 6 weeks - 6 months )
- Baby start to show more obvious and observable social behaviour social behaviour
- Show clear preference for humans rather than objects - recognise + prefer company
of similar people
- Accept cuddles and comfort from anyone - do not show separation anxiety
- Do not show stranger anxiety
Specific Attachment ( 7 months )
- Babies show classic signs of attachment towards one specific person
- Includes anxiety directed towards stranger - separation anxiety
- This point - baby formed a specific attachment - primary figure - 65% mothers
Multiple attachments ( 10/11 onwards )
- Shortly after babies start to show attachment - separation anxiety
- Usually extend this behaviour to multiple attachments with other people whom they
regularly spend time
- schaffer and Emerson observed 29% of children formed secondary attachments
within forming a primary attachment
, Research into development of attachments: Schaffer
and Emerson
Procedures: Set out to provide descriptive data about attachment - longitudinal study
Visited mothers and children every four weeks until infants were 12 months and then
again at 18 months.
Separation Anxiety: Anxiety or distress when caregiver left them
Stranger Anxiety: Signs of distress when approached by someone they didn’t know
Variety of methods including - observation + interview - triangulation
Findings:
- Most babies showed separation anxiety at around 6-8 months
- Fear of strangers followed a month later
- 65% first attachment figure was mother
- 3% first attachment figure was father
- 27% of fathers where joint
Not always about those who fed them it’s to do with those that interacted with them and
listened and responded to their signs
Evaluation:
Unrepresentitive - done in a working area of Glasgow
,Stages of Attachment:
Asocial Stage (0-6 weeks)
- Observable behaviour towards humans and objects is fairly similar
- Schaffer and Emerson don’t agree -even at this stage babies show signs prefer to
be with other people - show preference for company - baby is forming bonds
Indiscriminate ( 6 weeks - 6 months )
- Baby start to show more obvious and observable social behaviour social behaviour
- Show clear preference for humans rather than objects - recognise + prefer company
of similar people
- Accept cuddles and comfort from anyone - do not show separation anxiety
- Do not show stranger anxiety
Specific Attachment ( 7 months )
- Babies show classic signs of attachment towards one specific person
- Includes anxiety directed towards stranger - separation anxiety
- This point - baby formed a specific attachment - primary figure - 65% mothers
Multiple attachments ( 10/11 onwards )
- Shortly after babies start to show attachment - separation anxiety
- Usually extend this behaviour to multiple attachments with other people whom they
regularly spend time
- schaffer and Emerson observed 29% of children formed secondary attachments
within forming a primary attachment
, Research into development of attachments: Schaffer
and Emerson
Procedures: Set out to provide descriptive data about attachment - longitudinal study
Visited mothers and children every four weeks until infants were 12 months and then
again at 18 months.
Separation Anxiety: Anxiety or distress when caregiver left them
Stranger Anxiety: Signs of distress when approached by someone they didn’t know
Variety of methods including - observation + interview - triangulation
Findings:
- Most babies showed separation anxiety at around 6-8 months
- Fear of strangers followed a month later
- 65% first attachment figure was mother
- 3% first attachment figure was father
- 27% of fathers where joint
Not always about those who fed them it’s to do with those that interacted with them and
listened and responded to their signs
Evaluation:
Unrepresentitive - done in a working area of Glasgow
