Schaffer's stages of Attachment

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Schaffer and Emerson's study:

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.

Procedure -

·       Involved 60 babies - 31 male, 29 female.

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

·       The babies and their mothers were visited, at home, every month for the first year and then again at 18 months.

·       Mothers were questions on protest their babies displayed in everyday separation (i.e. parent leaving the room) (a measure of separation anxiety).

·       The researchers also assessed stranger anxiety (infants anxiety response to an unfamiliar adults).

Findings -

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

·       Attachment tended to be to the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and

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