Schaffer's Stages

• Schaffer and Emerson 1964


  Aimed to investigate the age children develop emotional intensity and who it is towards.
• Schaffer and Emerson: Method


  60 babies from working class families in Glasgow aged between 5-23 weeks. The researchers visited the babies and mothers every month for the first 12 months, then once again at 18 months. They interviewed the mothers about separations anxiety and stranger anxiety.
• Schaffer and Emerson: Findings


  At...

  • 25-32 weeks of age, 50% showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the mother.
  • 40 weeks of age, 80% had a specific attachment and 30% had formed multiple attachments
• Schaffer and Emerson: Conclusion


  Suggests attachment develops through a series of stages across the first year of life
• Specific Attachment


  From 7 months, babies display anxiety when separated from primary caregiver (65% of cases is the mother). Primary caregiver participates the most with reciprocity and not determined by time spent with.
• Multiple Attachment


  Infants form secondary attachments by 12 months, 29% formed within a month of making a specific attachment.
• Asocial Stage


  0-6 weeks, infants respond to people and things with a positive reaction such as a smile, responding similarly to people and objects.
• Indiscriminate Attachment


  2-7 months, occurs as infants enjoy human company over objects, but respond similarly to any caregiver. No separation or stranger anxiety.
• Schaffer's Stages: Strength


  High external validity as conducted using ordinary tasks in a natural environment, so babies behaviour is less likely to be affected by a 'alien environment'
• Schaffer's Stages: Weakness


  The sample studied, 60 babies from Glasgow, is very limited and doesn't consider cultural differences, so cannot be generalised.