1. Shaffer’s Stages of Attachment
Attachment: lesson 3
Shaffer’s Stages of Attachment

2. Homework on sdcpsychology
Today
Homework on sdcpsychology
Evaluate Shaffer’s stages of Attachment
Multiple attachments/role of the father
Complete the mini quiz

3. Which of Schaffer’s stages is the infant at and why?
Jacintha showed no distress when her mother (her primary caregiver) left the room to go out for the evening. When her older brother elbowed her she cried but was comforted after a cuddle from the new baby sitter who had just started that evening.
Stage:
Reasons:

4. Which of Schaffer’s stages is the infant at and why?
Ash went to nursery 4 days a week. When he saw his key worker at the nursery he was immediately pleased to see her and happy to be at nursery. When his mum picked him up from nursery he ran straight to he and was delighted to see her; the situation was the same when his dad picked him up. Once, though, his Auntie (who did not like children and rarely saw Ash) had to pick him up from nursery; Ash cried and clung to his key worker.
Stage:
Reasons:

5. Which of Schaffer’s stages is the infant at and why?
Albert cried the first time he saw his grandfather, who live abroad so had not visited him before. Furthermore, when his father (his primary caregiver) left the room Albert tried to follow him and tearfully banged on the shut door to try to get his father back.
Stage:
Reasons:

6. Which of Schaffer’s stages is the infant at and why?
Jane seemed interested when shown the red balloon, her teddy or her older sister. She seemed quite excited when her dad came back home from work but she also seemed excited to see a blue balloon. When the blue balloon popped she became very upset; showing her the red balloon did not calm her down, but a cuddle from her dad did.
Stage:
Reasons:

7. Task 3
Read the summary of Shaffer and Emerson study (1964) in your pack. List any potential strengths/weaknesses with this study in the space provided on your worksheet. e.g. low population validity (Glasgow, working class)

8. Task
Select one evaluation point. On the whiteboard with the point you selected you need to…
Elaborate on the point (some points may need introducing)
Link back to Shaffer’s stages of attachment.
What does the point really tell us about the stages of attachment?

9. Points Schaffer and Emerson’s study was longitudinal ….
In some cultures multiple caregivers are the norm ….
The stages were developed based on evidence such as Schaffer and Emerson’s study
This is a stage theory so………
Schaffer and Emerson’s study is based on a limited sample of participants…..
The stages link to reciprocity and intentional synchrony because……..

10. Schaffer and Emerson plenary
Plenary question activity- give students a number between1-6 they have to answer question on board and pick who to feed back.

11. 1. Name Schaffer’s four stages in order
2. Fully describe two of Schaffer’s stages
3. Describe the procedures of Schaffer’s study
3. Describe the findings of Schaffer’s study
4. Make a comment on the validity of Schaffer’s research
5. Make a comment on the sample of Scahffer’s study
6. Make a comment the fact that this was a stage theory.

12. 1. Define interactional synchrony in less that 16 words.
2. Summarise in one sentence why imitation behaviours are thought to be innate and not learnt?
3. Summarise Schaffer’s pre-attachment stage in one sentence.
4. Summarise the discriminate stage in 20 words
5. What were Schaffer’s findings? (should be 5%)
6. Explain why Schaffer’s stages are inflexible in one sentence.

13. Role of the father role play

14. Role of the father questions
Can fathers take on the role of primary caregivers?
In a family with a mother and a father living together with children, are fathers as important as mothers?
If children grow up without a father, does this matter?
What exactly is the role of the father?

15. Role of the father-correct or extend?
Grab a mini-whiteboard and pen

16. You need to decide whether the statements are true or false then if false - give the correct answer or if true - extend the correct answer.
There has been lots of research into the role of the father that have all come to similar conclusions so it is easy to definitively say what a fathers role should be?
There are times when children prefer being with their fathers and times with their mothers
Fathers are more able than mothers to detect low levels of infant distress
Fathers can be the main carer effectively
There is no link between the fathers relationship with his partner and with his children
There is evidence which contradicts the idea that men are less capable of being a sensitive primary caregiver than women
The research into the role of the father has practical applications for real life
Research has shown that children growing up in single or same sex parent households do not develop in the same way as children from two parent households

17. A couple who are pregnant are trying to decide whether the father should be the key care-giver and want to know if this will cause any long term problems for their child and what they need to do to prepare for this or what balance would be best for the child. You will be meeting the couple and must prepare to give them all of this info in a clear and concise way- include hints and tips, research evidence to support your answer and be prepared to answer their questions.
Prepare all of the information for this activity in groups of four-you must come up with a list of possible questions that could be asked, and then answer them, any tips for the parents? Any important evidence that you’d want to mention? - You will have 10 minutes.
Next split the groups so two are couple and two researchers and practice for 5 minutes.
Now we’ll do the actual role play but mix up the groups so if they are not in their original group. Remember the couple must have questions to ask and can’t just sit there, they are keeping the role play going!
Now as a four on the whiteboards in one paragraph summarise the advice you would give to a couple in this situation.

18. Multiple attachment questions

19. Multiple attachment key questions
Do all babies develop a single attachment to the main carer before they develop multiple attachments? If babies do develop multiple attachments after a primary attachment to one person, are multiple attachments of equal strength to the primary attachment or not? Is the picture clear on multiple attachments?

20. So what does the evidence show us then about multiple attachments?
On MWB’s: Write the missing figure from the following 78, 33,29 or 78
_____% of infants develop multiple attachments within a month of developing specific attachments (by 40 weeks)
By the age of one ____% of children have multiple attachments
By the age of one ___% of the ____% have 5 or more attachments (Schaffer)
Fathers are one of the key multiple attachments that children form and that this attachment is important for a child’s development.

21. Key questions appear on the left, evidence appear on the right.
On a MWB, write down which number links to which letter and explain what the link is.
Rutter (1995) saw all attachments as being equal – so there is no such thing as primary and secondary attachments. All a child’s attachments give the child an idea of how relationships work (an internal working model).
Bowlby developed the idea of monotropy – babies have one key attachment figure. This figure is usually, but does not have to be, the mother. Secondary attachments then follow, such as to the father and siblings.
In some cultures multiple caregivers are the norm so multiple attachments may develop immediately instead of specific attachments. For instance Sagi et al (1994) looked at children raised in a community children’s home in kibbutzim where they slept away from their parents, and compared them to children with family based sleeping arrangements. Attachment to the mother was twice as strong in the family based arrangements.
If babies do develop multiple attachments after a primary attachment to one person, are multiple attachments of equal strength to the primary attachment or not?
Is the picture clear on multiple attachments?
Do all babies develop a single attachment to the main carer before they develop multiple attachments?