Schaffers stages of attachment

• Schaffer and Emerson proposed that there were 4 identifiable stages of attachment which is observed in all babies
• What is the asocial stage? (1)

  The babies observable behaviour towards humans and inanimate objects is similar

  However babies tend to show a preference for the company of familiar people

  The baby is forming bonds with certain people - these form the basis of later attachments
• What is the indiscriminate attachment stage? (2)

  2 - 7 months

  Babies will show a preference for being with other humans rather than objects & they prefer the company of familiar people

  Babies will accept comfort from any person (indiscriminate)

  They do not show seperation anxiety or stranger anxiety
• What is the specific attachment stage? (3)

  7 months

  Babies start to display signs of attachment to a particular person - they will develop stranger and seperation anxiety

  The specific person they form an attachment with = Primary attachment figure (65% of cases - mother)

  The primary attachment figure offers most interactions with the baby
• What is the multiple attachment stage? (4)

  Babies extend their attachment behaviour to multiple attachments with other people who they spend regular time with = Secondary Attachments
• What did Schaffer and Emerson find out from there observations about the multiple attachment stage?

  They found that 29% of the children formed secondary attachments within a month of forming a specific attachment

  By 1 year = majority of babies developmed multiple attachments
• Why does Schaffer and Emersons research have good external validity? (Strength)

  The observations were made by parents during ordinary activities rather than by the observers

  This suggests that it is likely that the participants behaved naturally while they were being observed
• Why is there poor evidence of the asocial stage? (Limitation)


  • Young babies have poor co-ordination and if babies felt anxiety it might've been expressed in subtle ways
  • This would've made it difficult for mothers to be able to observe and report back to researchers signs of anxiety & attachment of their babies
  • This suggests that the babies may've been social but may've appeared to be asocial
• How can Schaffer and Emersons' stages of attachment be applied to real-word contexts? (Strength)

  It can be applied to daycare

  1. During the indiscriminate and asocial stage, babies will be able to cooperate with other individuals
  2. During the specific attachment stage, it may be harder for babies to be seperated and cooperate with unfamiliar adults