AO1 - Schaffer's Stages of Attachment

• Schaffer & Emerson (1964) studied 60 babies from Glasgow at monthly intervals for the first 18 months of life using a longitudinal method.
• Schaffer & Emerson found attachments were most likely to form with carers who were sensitive to the baby's signals, rather than the person they spent the most time with.
• By 10 months old, most babies have several multiple attachments, including attachments to mothers, fathers, siblings and extended family.
• Being sensitive and responsive, including playing and communicating with an infant, is more instrumental in attachment than physical care.
• Asocial (birth to 6 weeks) babies give similar responses to objects & people. They show a preference for faces, especially eyes.
• Indiscriminate (6 weeks – 6 months) babies have a preference for human company. They also have the ability to distinguish between people but are comforted indiscriminately.
• Specific (7 months +) infants show a preference for one caregiver, displaying separation and stranger anxiety. The baby looks to particular people for security, comfort and protection.
• Multiple (10/11 months +) attachment behaviours are displayed towards several different people e.g. siblings, grandparents etc.
• Separation anxiety is when infants show distress on separation from their caregiver.
• Stranger anxiety is when infants show distress when in the presence of unfamiliar people.
• The primary attachment figure is usually who the baby has formed a strong specific attachment with.
• Many developmental theories of attachment identify sequences or stages like Schaffer.
• Anxiety and distress is a key signal that a child has formed a significant attachment to their caregiver.