Schaffer's stages of attachments

Schaffer's Stages of Attachment

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

Method

• 60 babies from Glasgow, most from w/c families
• Babies and their mothers were visited at home every month for a year and at 18 months
• The researchers asked the mothers questions about the kind of protest their babies showed in seven everyday situations .e.g. adult leaning the room
• This was designed to measure the infant's attachment
• The researchers also addressed stranger anxiety

Findings

• 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult between 25-32 weeks of age
• This primary attachment was usally with the mother
• Attachments tended to be to the caregivers who was the most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions

Stages of attachment

• Asocial stage:
  • First few weeks
  • Baby's beh towards inanimate objects and humans is quite similar
  • Some preference for familiar adults
  • Babies are also happier in the presence of other adults
• Indiscriminate attachment
  • 2-7 months
  • Babies now display more observable social beh, with a preference for people rather than inanimate objects
  • They recognise and…