Schaffer and Emerson (1964): studied 60 babies, all from Glasgow
of similar class backgrounds. Visited mothers in their own homes
at 1 year then again at 18 months. Interviewed the mothers about
the babies behaviour to measure adaption.
Stages:
1. Asocial Stage - Little distinction between
humans and inanimate objects, tend to show
preference for eyes and company of people
familiar to them.
2. Indiscriminate attachment - 2-7 months, show clear
preference for other humans rather than objects.
Recognise and prefer familiar people. Do not show
separation or stranger anxiety.
3. Specific attachment - 7 months +,
display stranger and separation anxiety.
Said to have formed a primary
attachment to a certain person by this
point, most commonly the mother.
4. Multiple attachments - 1 year, begin to form multiple
secondary attachments, show clear anxiety and
attachment behaviours. 29% formed secondary
attachments within a month of forming a primary one.
Evaluation
Strengths:
Good external validity. Most observations were made by
parents during ordinary activities, highly likely that
behaviour was natural.
Practical application. Parents' use of daycare
can be planned alongside attachment stages.
Weaknesses:
Poor evidence for asocial stage.
Young babies are fairly immobile so
their actions may have been subtle,
therefore there is difficulty in
observing and picking up signs.
Bias issues. The mother as the observer
is unlikely to be closely objective.