Stages of Attachment

• what was the aim of Schaffer’s (1964) research into stages of attachment


  To investigate the age at which different types of attachments develop.
• The Procedure of Schaffer’s (1964) research into stages of attachment


  60 infants from skilled working-class families in Glasgow were studied as part of a longitudinal piece of research. The infants and their mothers were visited at home every month for the first year and again at 18 months. The researchers asked the mothers questions about the kind of protests their infants showed when the mother left the room to measure their separation anxiety. They also assessed infants’ stranger anxiety by recording their responses to unfamiliar adults.
• what were the findings of Schaffer’s (1964) research into stages of attachment


  Schaffer and Emerson found that attachments develop in stages over a period of time. The stages of attachment include:

  • Pre-attachment Phase
  • Indiscriminate-attachment Phase
  • Discriminate-attachment Phase
  • Multiple Attachments
• indiscriminate attachment stage

  infants begin to recognise familiar adults (e.g. their mother) though they will usually accept comfort from any adult
•  discriminate attachment stage,

  In the discriminate attachment stage, infants develop a strong attachment to a specific caregiver who offers them the most interaction and responds best to their needs
• the multiple attachment stage,

  in the multiple attachment stage, infants extend their attachment behaviour to multiple adults whom they regularly spend time with (e,g. grandparents). Some of these may be stronger than others and they may play different roles e.g. providing play or comfort.
• What is a strength of Schaffer’s research in terms of ecological validity?

  🟢 High ecological validity

  • Schaffer conducted the study in infants' homes.
  • This means their behaviour (e.g., separation anxiety) was more natural.
  • Increases ecological validity, making findings more applicable to real-life attachment.
• Why might Schaffer’s research lack generalisability?

  🔴 Lacks generalisability

  • The study only included working-class families.
  • Upper-class families may use nannies, affecting attachment stages.
  • Findings may not apply to children from different social backgrounds.
• Why might Schaffer’s research not apply to modern society?

  
  

  
  

  🔴 Outdated research

  • The study was conducted in the 1960s.
  • Parenting styles have changed (e.g., more mothers return to work earlier).
  • Multiple attachments may now form earlier than Schaffer suggested.
• Why might Schaffer’s research be considered subjective?

  🔴 Subjective interpretations

  • Infants have poor coordination and cannot verbalise attachments.
  • Researchers had to infer attachment based on behaviour.
  • Infants may form attachments earlier, but lack the ability to express them.