Schaffers stages of attatchment

• Schaffer and Emmerson (1964) Aimed to investigate

  • Early attachments
  • Emotional intensity
• Procedure

  1. 60 babies: 29 F and 31 M
  2. From Glasgow- skilled working class families
  3. Mothers were visited every month at home for 18 months and asked about separation when carer left the room
• Results

  • Between 25 and 32 weeks 50% of babies showed signs of separation anxiety
  • By 40 weeks 80% had a specific attachment and 30% had multiple attachment
• Stage 1 - Asocial stage

  • First few weeks
  • Behavior towards human and non human objects very similar
  • Show preference to certain company
  • Can form bonds
• Stage 2- Indiscriminate attachments

  • 2-7 months
  • observable social interactions
  • preference for humans over inanimate objects
  • Accept comfort from any person but do show preference
  • Dont show stranger or separation anxiety
• Stage 3- Specific attachment

  • 7-12 months
  • Signs of attachment towards one particular person
  • Separation and stranger anxiety
  • Attachment with primary attachment figure (mother 65% time)
• Stage 4- Multiple attachment

  • 12+ months
  • Babies show multiple attachment (secondary attachments)
  • 29% of infants form within a month of primary attachment
• EVALUATION- Strength - External validity

  • Naturalistic study so children were observed in their natural environment and likely to be acting normally

  COUNTERPOINT

  • Asking participants to be observers could be bias and not accurately record information
• EVALUATION - WEAKNESS - Difficult to record babies

  • Due to the difficulty in interpreting babies moment due to poor coordination and lack of mobility there is poor evidence for the asocial stage
• EVALUATION - Strength- real world application

  • Has practical application in daycares
• EVALUATION - Strength - Generalisability

  • large scale study
  • However, can differ from cultures