Schaffer and Emerson’s theory

• Rudolph Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) conducted a longitudinal study on 60 babies, observing them at monthly intervals for the first 18 months of life
• The study focused on three measures:

  • Stranger Anxiety: response to the arrival of a stranger
  • Separation Anxiety: distress level when separated from the carer and degree of comfort needed upon return
  • Social Referencing: degree to which the child looks at the carer to check how to respond to something new (secure base)
• Stages of attachment development:

  • Asocial Stage (0-6 weeks): infants are asocial and react favorably to various stimuli
  • Indiscriminate Attachments (6 weeks to 7 months): infants enjoy human company and respond equally to any caregiver, getting upset when interaction ceases
  • Specific Attachment (7-9 months): preference for a single attachment figure, showing fear of strangers and unhappiness when separated
  • Multiple Attachment (10 months and onwards): infants become independent and form several attachments, with most infants having multiple attachments by 18 months
• Attachments are most likely to form with those who respond accurately to the baby's signals, not necessarily the person they spend the most time with (sensitive responsiveness)
• Factors affecting attachment:

  • Prematurity: premature babies in incubators may struggle with the attachment process
  • Disability: parents may find it harder to attach to a baby with a disability, impacting attachment formation
  • Post-natal depression (PND): long-lasting PND can affect a mother's ability to bond with her baby
• Challenges to attachment formation:

  • Emotional unavailability: parents' issues with alcohol, drug abuse, illness, or struggling with their role
  • Separation: parents' separation from the baby due to illness, bereavement, or divorce can impact attachment and a baby's sense of identity
  • Foster care/adoption: inconsistency of caregivers in the care system can affect attachments and a child's sense of identity