Stages of attachments

• Schaffer and Emerson's study sample

  60 babies (1 male and 29 female) from Glasgow working class families
• AO3 of Schaffer and Emerson


  + good external validity as carried out in the homes

  + longitudinal so good internal validity as children followed up so no confounding variables as same children used

  - can't be generalised due to small sample

  - only applies to working class Glasgow babies

  - lacks temporal validity: 1960s Scotland had different social roles than it does today, so can't be applied to today's society

  - doesn't necessarily measure attachment as stranger and separation anxiety are only two components that make up attachment
• Stage 1 of attachment


  asocial stage

  birth to 2 months

  recognising and forming bonds with carer but behaviours towards human and non-human objects are similar.

  baby shows preference to familiar people and can calm down quickly with them

  baby happier in the presence of humans
• Stage 2 of attachment


  indiscriminate stage

  2-7 months

  child shows preference to humans rather than inanimate objects. they recognise and prefer similar objects

  they accept comfort from any adult

  do not show stranger of separation anxiety
• Stage 3 of attachment


  specific attachment

  around 7 months

  infant starts to show stranger anxiety and separation anxiety. the child has formed a specific attachment with the primary caregiver
• Stage 4 of attachment


  multiple attachments

  a month after forming specific attachments

  child forms secondary attachment
• evaluation of stages of development

  - problems with asocial stage as baby has no coordination and is immobile so judgements on behaviour can not be made when this young

  - problems with multiple attachments as not clear when baby forms second attachment as different in collectivist cultures

  - theory suggests that development of attachment is not flexible

  +application as gives a mothers point of view of their child's progress in attachment
• Schaffer and Emerson's study aim

  • why early attachments form
  • age at which they develop emotional intensity
  • who the attachment is directed at
• Schaffer and Emerson study method

  • visited baby's homes every month for for the first year and again at 18 months
  • baby was observed while researchers present
  • mothers asked if babies show any protest and tested separation and stranger anxiety
  • mothers kept a record of baby's behaviour
• Schaffer and Emerson findings

  • between 25 and 32 months 50% of babies showed signs of separation anxiety
  • babies showed reciprocity
  • by age 40 weeks 80% of babies had specific attachment and 30% showed multiple attachment