Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer

Question 1

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) do?

Answer 1

A longitudinal study was completed in Scotland that followed the development of attachments in 60 infants. Using naturalistic observations the infants were observed every 4 weeks for up to 1 year and then observed once more at 18 months.

Question 2

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) assess to measure attachment?

Answer 2

• Levels of separation protest
• Stranger anxiety

Question 3

What were the results of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study?

Answer 3

• 50% of children showed their first specific attachment between 6-8 months and this tended to be the mother
• By 10 months, 50% of infants had more than one attachment. By 18 months this was up to 87%
• 39% of the infants had a primary attachment with someone other than the person who usually fed, bathed and changed them

Question 4

What were the conclusions of Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) study?

Answer 4

• Attachments develop with time, perhaps positively correlated with age = i.e. as we get older we form more attachments.
• Fear of strangers appears just after we have formulated attachments to caregivers / PAF.
• Most kids have multiple attachments, but not the ‘one’ (But the one, may not be the feeder!).

Question 5

What is the asocial/pre-attachment stage?

Answer 5

0-5 weeks
Infant produces similar responses to objects and people: e.g., smiling and laughing. They show no preference for specific people but towards the end of this stage they show a preference for social stimuli: e.g., a smiling face.

Question 6

What is the indiscriminate attachment stage?

Answer 6

2-7 months
Babies become more sociable, can tell people apart and prefer to be in human company. They can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people, but are still relatively easily comforted by anyone. Infants in this stage do not show stranger anxiety.

Question 7

What is the specific attachment stage?

Answer 7

7-11 months
Infants begin to show separation anxiety and stranger anxiety. They show a strong attachment and preference to one individual (normally the PAF). However, good subsequent attachments are often made from 9 months.

Question 8

What is the multiple attachments stage?

Answer 8

11+ months
The baby now makes several attachments to important people in their life. Such as . . .
Infants also display separation anxiety in these secondary attachments.

Question 9

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find about multiple attachments?

Answer 9

• Infants form multiple attachments around 10/11 months;
• By 18 months, only 13% of infants had only a single attachment;
• 31% had 5 or more attachments: Grandparents, siblings, others significant people
• Suggests infants can form multiple attachments if the opportunity arises.