(2026 Exams) Schaffer & Emerson (1964)

Q: Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) observed babies and their interactions with those around them. They concluded that the development of attachment could be divided into a number of specific stages.

Q: Stages of Attachment

Schaffer (1966) concluded from his previous research with Emerson that human infant attachments happen through a number of stages:

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Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) observed babies and their interactions with those around them. They concluded that the development of attachment could be divided into a number of specific stages.

Aim of study

To find the age at which attachments start and how intense these were.

Method

They studied 60 babies from a working class area of Glasgow, observing them every four weeks for the first year and then again at 18 months.
As well as observations, interviews were conducted with the mothers, including questions about whom the infants smiled at, responded to and who caused them distress.

Variables

Strength of attachment was measured by:
- Separation anxiety: how distressed the child became when separated from the main caregiver (which suggests an attachment has been formed).
- Stranger anxiety: distress shown when the child was left alone with an unfamiliar person (which suggests that the child can recognise familiar and unfamiliar people).

Findings

The first specific attachment was formed by 50% of infants between 25 and 32 weeks. Intensity peaked in the first month following the onset of the first attachment.
Multiple attachments began soon after the first attachment had been formed.
- By 18 months, 31% had five or more attachments.

Conclusion of study

Human attachments develop in four stages:
- Asocial.
- Indiscriminate attachment.
- Specific attachment.
- Multiple attachments.

Evaluation

Because babies were observed in their own homes (a natural environment) we can assume that the study is high in ecological validity; the findings can be generalised to the real world.
Data was collected by direct observation by the mother. This could have been prone to bias and inaccuracy.
There were large individual differences when attachments formed. This added uncertainty to the process of attachment formation being exclusively biological.

Stages of Attachment

Schaffer (1966) concluded from his previous research with Emerson that human infant attachments happen through a number of stages:

Asocial

0 - 6 weeks
This is short lived.
Attention seeking behaviour, such as crying and smiling, is not directed at anyone in particular. This suggests attachments could be made with anyone.

Indiscriminate attachment

6 weeks - 7 months.
Similar to asocial in that the child seeks attention from anyone and is happy to receive attention from anyone.
Preferences are shown to familiar faces that elicit a greater response from the infant.

Specific attachment

7 - 11 months.
Child is primarily attached to the main caregiver.
If they are separated the child becomes distressed and the child is wary of strangers.
This is what can be seen in the 'Strange Situation' experiment.

Multiple attachments

After a primary attachment has been made to the caregiver, infants can go on to form many attachments with other people.
The multiple attachments can vary in strength and tend to happen with other family members.
There is not thought to be a limit on how many attachments can be made.