Stages of Attachment Identified by Schaffer and multiple attachments

Question 1

What is the first stage of attachment?

Answer 1

Asocial (Pre-attachment)
- First few weeks
- Their behaviour towards humans and non-humans are similar

Question 2

What is the second stage attachment?

Answer 2

Indiscriminate (Diffuse attachment)
- 2 to 7 months
- Babies begin to show preference for humans over inanimate objects and prefer familiar people to non-familiar people.
- Beginning of attachment of attachment formation.
- Will accept attachment and affection from all adults equally.

Question 3

What is the third stage of attachment?

Answer 3

Specific attachment (Discriminate)
- 7 months
- Stranger and separation anxiety may occur
- 65% of cases the specific attachment is mainly to the mother

Question 4

What is the fourth stage of attachment?

Answer 4

Multiple attachment
- 8 to 12 months
- Babies begin to form multiple attachments to those other than their primary attachment figure (secondary attachment).