Findings

• Schaffer and Emerson identified four distinct stages in the development of infant attachment behaviour which make up their stages of attachment theory
• Stage 1 : Asocial Stage

  Occurs during first few weeks of life

  Behaviour towards humans and inanimate objects is fairly similar

  Schaffer and Emerson did not believe it was entirely asocial because preference for people was shown

  Preference for familiar people shown and they are more easily comforted by them

  Bonds are formed with certain people which are the basis of later attachments
• Stage 2 : Indiscriminate Attachment Stage


  Occurs at 2 to 7 months

  Clear preference for being with other humans rather than inanimate objects

  They recognise and prefer company of familiar however will accept cuddles and comfort from anyone

  Do not usually show separation or stranger anxiety
• Stage 3 : Specific Attachment 


  From around 7 months

  Attachment signs towards one person are prevalent

  Stranger anxiety especially when attachment figure is absent and separation anxiety

  Attachment is not necessarily with the individual the child spends the most time but the one who offers the most interaction to the baby's ' signals ' with the most skill

  This is the baby's mother in 65% of cases
• Stage 4 : Multiple Attachments 


  Shortly after babies show attachment behaviour towards one person they usually extend this to multiple attachments with people whom they regularly spend time with

  These are called secondary attachments

  Schaffer and Emerson observed that 29% of the children formed secondary attachments within a month of forming a primary attachment

  By one year , majority of babies developed multiple attachments