Schaffer’s stages of attachment

• Outline Schaffer’s research into the stages of attachment

  Schaffer identified that there were 4 stages of attachment: the pre-attachment stage (0-2 months), the indiscriminate attachment stage (2-7 months), the

  discriminate attachment stage (7 months onwards) and the multiple attachments stage (9 months onwards). In the pre-attachment stage, infants learn to distinguish objects from people and begin to prefer humans over objects, though they do not have any

  preference about who cares for them.
• Outline Schaffer’s research into the stages of attachment - indiscriminate/discriminate

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

  adult. 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. This means they will start to display stranger anxiety when in the presence of unfamiliar adults and separation anxiety when separated from their specific attachment figure.
• Outline Schaffer’s research into the stage - 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.
• Strength of Schaffer's stage of attachment - conducted in the infants natural environment

  This is because Schaffer observed the infants with their mothers in their family homes. This is a strength because it means that the infants' behaviour (e.g. whether they show separation anxiety) is more likely to be natural/a sign of their attachment rather than just a response to being in an unfamiliar setting. Therefore adds cred.

  credibility.
• Limitation of Schaffer’s stages of attachment - not generalisable

  This is because Schaffer studied infants and

  mothers from working class families. This is a limitation because social class can affect parenting styles e.g. whereby upper-class families may rely more on

  nannies. This is a limitation because it may mean that the stages of attachment may differ in children of different social classes e.g. a child in an upper-

  class family may develop multiple attachments sooner than Schaffer suggested as they are more likely to be looked after by nannies. Therefore questions cred.
• Limitation is that findings may not generalise to today’s society

  This is because the research was conducted in the 1960s.This is a limitation because parenting styles have changed since then e.g. with more women now returning to work earlier. This is a limitation because it means infants are now more likely to be exposed to multiple attachments earlier in their life, and so the multiple attachment stage may occur sooner than this research suggests. Therefore questions credibility.
• Limitation of Schaffer’s research stages of attachment - required subjective interpretations

  This is because young infants have poor coordination and are unable to speak so assumptions have to be made about their attachments based on their behaviour. This is a limitation because jt

  may be that infants develop discriminate/specific attachments sooner than Schaffer suggested, it is just that they lack the movement/verbal ability to

  express this. Therefore questions credibility