Describe and evaluate research into multiple attachments. (16 marks)
Schaffer and Emmerson studied 60 babies from Glasgow with most coming from working
class backgrounds. The babies ranged from ages between 5 to 23 weeks and were visited at
home every month for a year and at 18 months. Separation anxiety measured by asking
mothers about their children behaviour during everyday separation. Stranger anxiety
measured by asking mother questions about their children anxiety response to unfamiliar
adults. They found 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult
(primary attachment us allay with mum) between 25-32 weeks of age. They reported
attachment tended to be with caregiver that who was most interactive and responsive to
infant’s signal, not necessarily the person who spent most time with infant.
Schaffer and Emerson research led to the development of the 4 distinct stages of
attachment. Stage 1 is the Asocial stage (first few weeks) this is when the babies’ behaviour
to human and objects is the same and near the end of this period they start to have some
preference to familiar individuals. Stage 2 (2-7m) is the indiscriminate attachment this is
when babies accept comfort from any adult with a preference for people than inanimate
objects. Stage 3 (7-12m) is specific attachments the baby has primary attachment to specific
individual and show separation and stranger anxiety when separated from that individual
and recognise particular individuals. Stage 4 is (1yr+) multiple attachments this is when the
baby form secondary attachments, Schaffer and Emerson found 29% of infants had
secondary attachment within 1 month of forming first attachment.
A strength of Schaffer study is that it was carried out longitudinally. For example, in their
study the same children were followed up and observed regularly. This is a strength as there
was no confounding variable of individual differences between participants as the same
participants were used. Therefore, this is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson study is that it
has good internal validity.
A limitation of Schaffer stages of attachment is conflicting evidence from different cultures
on multiple attachments. For example, research from individualistic cultures suggests that
babies form attachment to a single main caregiver before becoming capable of developing
multiple attachments. Whereas in research from collectivists cultures were multiple
caregivers is the norm, believe babies from attachment from the onset. Therefore, this is a
limitation of Schaffer stages of attachment as these cross-cultural differences means it is
difficult to produce a theory that is applicable to all cultures. However, research evidence
from Takano and Osaka found no distinction of individualism and collectivism due to the
development of technology. Thus, this suggests that Schaffer stages of attachment may be
applicable to some cultures.
A limitation of Schaffer and Emerson theory of the stages of attachment is that asocial stage
is difficult to study. For example, young babies in this stage have poor co-ordination and are
generally immobile. It is therefore very difficult to make any judgements about the infants
based on observations of their behaviour as there is not much observable behaviour.
However, despite the first few stages labelled asocial it may be the babies are actually quite
social, but because of flawed methods they appear to be asocial. Thus, this is a weakness
Schaffer and Emmerson studied 60 babies from Glasgow with most coming from working
class backgrounds. The babies ranged from ages between 5 to 23 weeks and were visited at
home every month for a year and at 18 months. Separation anxiety measured by asking
mothers about their children behaviour during everyday separation. Stranger anxiety
measured by asking mother questions about their children anxiety response to unfamiliar
adults. They found 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards a particular adult
(primary attachment us allay with mum) between 25-32 weeks of age. They reported
attachment tended to be with caregiver that who was most interactive and responsive to
infant’s signal, not necessarily the person who spent most time with infant.
Schaffer and Emerson research led to the development of the 4 distinct stages of
attachment. Stage 1 is the Asocial stage (first few weeks) this is when the babies’ behaviour
to human and objects is the same and near the end of this period they start to have some
preference to familiar individuals. Stage 2 (2-7m) is the indiscriminate attachment this is
when babies accept comfort from any adult with a preference for people than inanimate
objects. Stage 3 (7-12m) is specific attachments the baby has primary attachment to specific
individual and show separation and stranger anxiety when separated from that individual
and recognise particular individuals. Stage 4 is (1yr+) multiple attachments this is when the
baby form secondary attachments, Schaffer and Emerson found 29% of infants had
secondary attachment within 1 month of forming first attachment.
A strength of Schaffer study is that it was carried out longitudinally. For example, in their
study the same children were followed up and observed regularly. This is a strength as there
was no confounding variable of individual differences between participants as the same
participants were used. Therefore, this is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson study is that it
has good internal validity.
A limitation of Schaffer stages of attachment is conflicting evidence from different cultures
on multiple attachments. For example, research from individualistic cultures suggests that
babies form attachment to a single main caregiver before becoming capable of developing
multiple attachments. Whereas in research from collectivists cultures were multiple
caregivers is the norm, believe babies from attachment from the onset. Therefore, this is a
limitation of Schaffer stages of attachment as these cross-cultural differences means it is
difficult to produce a theory that is applicable to all cultures. However, research evidence
from Takano and Osaka found no distinction of individualism and collectivism due to the
development of technology. Thus, this suggests that Schaffer stages of attachment may be
applicable to some cultures.
A limitation of Schaffer and Emerson theory of the stages of attachment is that asocial stage
is difficult to study. For example, young babies in this stage have poor co-ordination and are
generally immobile. It is therefore very difficult to make any judgements about the infants
based on observations of their behaviour as there is not much observable behaviour.
However, despite the first few stages labelled asocial it may be the babies are actually quite
social, but because of flawed methods they appear to be asocial. Thus, this is a weakness
