Stages of attachment - Schaffer

Question 1

Who studied stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson

Question 2

What was Schaffer and Emerson’s aim?

Answer 2

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

Describe the method

Answer 3

• It involved 60 working class babies from Glasgow : 31 male and 29 female.
• The babies and their mothers were visited at home every month for the first year and again at 18 months.
• The researchers asked the mothers questions about the kind of protest the babies showed seven day everyday separations e.g. adult leaving the room - this was designed to measure the infant’s attachment.
• The researcher also tested stranger anxiety - the infant’s anxiety to unfamiliar adults.

Question 4

What were the findings?

Answer 4

• 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 specific attachment).
• Attachment tended to be 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 spent most of their time.
• By the age of 40 weeks, 80% of the babies had a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.

Question 5

What were the four stages they suggested?

Answer 5

• Asocial stage (0-8 weeks)
• Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
• Specific Attachments (7-12 months)
• Multiple Attachments (1 year onwards)

Question 6

Describe what happens in the asocial stage

Answer 6

• Baby is recognising and forming bonds with its carers. However, the behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is quite similar.
• Babies are also happier when in the presence of other humans
• Babies show some preference for familiar adults in that those individuals find it easier to calm them.

Question 7

Give examples of behaviour shown in the asocial stage

Answer 7

• recognise specific faces
• happier in presence of humans than when alone
• preference for familiar adults
• smile at anyone
• prefer faces to non-faces
• behaviour between humans and non humans is quite similar

Question 8

Describe the indiscriminate stage

Answer 8

• From 2-7 months babies display more observable social behaviour.
• They show a preference for people rather than inanimate objects, recognise and prefer familiar adults:
• At this stage, babies usually accept cuddles and comfort from any adult, and
  they do not usually show separation anxiety.
• The behaviour is seen to be indiscriminate because it is not different towards any one person

Question 9

Describe the behaviour shown in the indiscriminate attachment

Answer 9

• recognise and prefer familiar people
• accept comfort from any adult
• preference for people rather than inanimate objects

Question 10

Describe the specific attachment

Answer 10

• From around 7 months the majority of babies start to display anxiety towards strangers and to become anxious whe
  separated from one particular adult (the biological mother in 65% of cases).
• At this point, the baby is said to have formed a specific attachment. This person is not necessarily the person the child spends most time with but the one who offers the most interaction and
  responds to the baby’s signals’ with the most skill.

Question 11

Describe the behaviour shown in the specific attachment

Answer 11

• show separation anxiety
• use familiar adults as secure base
• primary attachment to one particular individual (the person who shows the most sensitivity to their signals)
• show stranger anxiety

Question 12

Describe the multiple attachments stage

Answer 12

• Shortly after babies start to show attachment behaviour towards one adult they usually extend the attachment
  behaviour to multiple attachments with other adults with whom they regularly spend time.
• By the age of one year’s majority infants have developed multiple attachments developed multiple attachments

Question 13

Describe the behaviour shown in the multiple attachments

Answer 13

• smile more at familiar than unfamiliar faces

- form secondary attachments with familiar adults with whom they spend time e.g. father, grandparents