Schaffer's stages of attachment

Question 1

Various theories have identified stages in the development of attachments. What are ‘stages of attachment’?

Answer 1

Many developmental theories identify a sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages. In stages of attachment some characteristics of the infant’s behaviour towards others change as the infant gets older.

Question 2

What did Schaffer and Emerson aim to investigate in 1964?

Answer 2

Schaffer and Emerson aimed to investigate the formation of early attachments, in particular the age at which they developed, their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed.

Question 3

How large was the sample studied by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 3

The study involved 60 babies: 31 males and 29 females.

Question 4

What did the infants from Schaffer and Emerson’s sample have in common?

Answer 4

All infants were from Glasgow and the majority were from skilled working-class families.

Question 5

How did Schaffer and Emerson investigate their sample of 60 babies?

Answer 5

The babies and their mothers were visited at their home every month for the first year and again at 18 months. The researchers asked the mothers questions about the kind of protest their babies showed in seven everyday separations. This was designed to measure the infant’s attachment.

Question 6

Which two types of anxiety were assessed by Schaffer and Emerson?

Answer 6

Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety

Question 7

Between 25 and 32 weeks of age, what percentage of the infants studied showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult?

Answer 7

Between 25 and 32 weeks of age about 50% of the babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the mother. This is called a specific attachment.

Question 8

Which caregiver did the infants typically direct their attachment towards?

Answer 8

Attachment tended to be to the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions (i.e. reciprocity). This was not necessarily the person with whom the infant spend most time.

Question 9

By the age of 40 weeks, what percentage of the babies studied had formed a specific attachment?

Answer 9

By the age of 40 weeks, 80% of the babies had a specific attachment.

Question 10

By the age of 40 weeks, what percentage of the babies studied has formed multiple attachments?

Answer 10

By the age of 40 weeks, almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.

Question 11

What are multiple attachments?

Answer 11

Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments once they have formed one true attachment to a main carer.

Question 12

Based on the information they gathered on developing attachments, Schaffer and Emerson proposed that attachments develop in how many stages?

Answer 12

They proposed that attachments develop in four stages.

Question 13

According to Schaffer and Emerson, attachments develop in four stages. What are these four stages?

Answer 13

Stage 1: Asocial stage
Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment
Stage 3: Specific attachment
Stage 4: Multiple attachments

Question 14

When do babies experience the asocial stage of attachment?

Answer 14

Babies experience the asocial stage during their first few weeks of life.

Question 15

What happens during the asocial stage of attachment?

Answer 15

This is not really an asocial stage as the baby is recognising and forming bonds with its carers. However:

-The baby’s behaviour
towards non-human
objects and humans is
similar

- Babies show some 
  preference for familiar 
  adults in that those 
  individuals find it easier 
  to calm them. 

• Babies are happier when
  in the presence of other
  humans.

Question 16

When do babies experience indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 16

Babies experience indiscriminate attachment between 2 and 7 months.

Question 17

What happens during indiscriminate attachment?

Answer 17

From 2-7 months babies display more observable social behaviour:

- They show a preference 
   for people rather than 
   inanimate objects, and 
   recognise and prefer 
   familiar adults 

• Babies usually accept
  cuddles and comfort
  from any adult
• They do not usually
  show separation anxiety
  or stranger anxiety

- Their attachment 
  behaviour is said to be 
  indiscriminate because 
  it is no different towards
  any one person

Question 18

When do babies experience specific attachments?

Answer 18

Babies experience specific attachments from around 7 months.

Question 19

What happens during the stage of ‘specific attachment’?

Answer 19

• The majority of babies
  start to display stranger
  anxiety and separation
  anxiety
• The baby is thought to
  have formed a specific
  attachment with a
  primary caregiver

Question 20

When do babies experience multiple attachments?

Answer 20

Babies experience multiple attachments from one year onwards.

Question 21

What happens during the stage of ‘multiple attachments’?

Answer 21

• Babies form secondary
  attachments with other
  adults with whom they
  regularly spend time
• By the age of about one
  year the majority of
  infants have developed
  multiple attachments