stages of attachment

Question 1

Rudolf Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) goal

Answer 1

Rudolf Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) 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.

Question 2

Rudolf Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) procedure

Answer 2

The study 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 again at 18 months. The researchers asked the mothers questions about the kind of protest their babies showed in seven everyday separations, e.g. adult leaving the room (a measure of separation anxiety). This was designed to measure the infant’s attachment. The researchers also assessed stranger anxiety – the infant’s anxiety response to unfamiliar adults.

Question 3

Rudolf Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) findings

Answer 3

The data about attachments are shown in the table on the left. 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 to 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 time.

Question 4

Stage 1: Asocial stage (first few weeks)

Answer 4

This is not really an asocial stage (even though Schaffer and Emerson used that term) as the baby is recognising and forming bonds with its carers. However, the baby’s behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is quite similar. Babies show some preference for familiar adults in that those individuals find it easier to calm them. Babies are also happier when in the presence of other humans.

Question 5

Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment

Answer 5

From 2–7 months babies display more observable social behaviour. They show a preference for people rather than inanimate objects, and 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 or stranger anxiety. Their attachment behaviour is therefore said to be indiscriminate because it is not different towards any one person.

Question 6

Stage 3: Specific attachment

Answer 6

From around 7 months the majority of babies start to display anxiety towards strangers and to become anxious when 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 adult is termed the primary attachment figure and 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 7

Stage 4: Multiple attachments

Answer 7

Shortly after babies show attachment behaviour towards one adult they usually extend this attachment behaviour to multiple attachments with other adults with whom they regularly spend time. These relationships are called secondary attachments. In Schaffer and Emerson’s study, 29% of the children had secondary attachments within a month of forming a primary (specific) attachment. By the age of about one year the majority of infants had developed multiple attachments.