Schaffer's stages of attachment

• Asocial stage (first weeks)

  Behaviour to humans and inanimate objects the same

  Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)

  Preference to humans, however no separation anxiety

  Specific Attachment (7 months)

  Anxiety towards strangers, specific attachment to primary care giver

  Multiple attachment

  Multiple attachments to secondary attachments
• Schaffer and Emerson' research

  60 babies from Glasgow middle class

  Visited every month for first year then again at 18 months

  Asked mothers about protests their babies showed in seperations

  Findings

  Identified the stages
• Positives of Schaffers research

  Good external validity - own home

  Practical application
• Negatives of Schaffers research

  Mothers were the observers

  Poor evidence for the asocial stage

  Generalisability - Only working class Glasgow