What is Attachment?
Attachment is a strong emotional tie that develops over time between an infant and its primary caregiver(s) and results in a desire to maintain proximity (Flanagan, 1999).
Anderson (1972) used the field study approach and observed children in a London park. He found that children rarely wandered further than 200 feet before returning to their mother. This links with the idea of a 'secure base' being essential for healthy development.
Activity
Identify at least three advantages and disadvantages of the field study approach.
The Phases of
Development
Schaffer and
Emerson (1964) and Schaffer (1996) identified four phases:
1. The pre-attachment
phase
2. The
indiscriminate attachment phase
3. The
discriminate or specific attachment phase
4. The
multiple attachment phase
Activity
Using illustrations, describe the behaviours associated with each phase.
Link to the Nature/Nurture
Debate