Shaffer's stages of Attachment

What is Stage 1 called?

Asocial stage

What is Stage 2 called?

Indiscriminate attachment

What is Stage 3 called?

specific attachment

What is Stage 4 called?

Multiple attachments

What age is Stage 2?

2-7 months

What age is stage 3?

Approximately 7 months

What age is stage 4?

By age 1 (majority of babies)

In stage 1 do they prefer humans or inanimate objects?

They have similar behaviour towards both

(stage 1) what do they show signs of?

That they prefer to be with other people - happier

(stage 1) What do they start to show a preference for?

The company of familiar people and are more easily comforted by them

(stage 1) What starts to form?

Bonds that form the basis of later attachments

(stage 2) What does the baby start to display?

obvious social behaviours

(stage 2) what does the baby show a preference for? (H or IO)

Humans

(stage 2) what does the baby recognise and prefer?

The company of familiar people

(stage 2) who do they accept comfort from?

any person

(stage 2) do they show separation anxiety or stranger anxiety?

Not usually

(stage 3) What does the baby start to display?

Signs of attachment towards one particular person such as stranger anxiety and separation anxiety

(stage 3) What has the baby now formed?

A specific attachment towards one person.

(stage 3) Who is the specific attachment towards?

one who offers the most interaction and responds with the most skill

(stage 3) How often is the attachment the mother?

65% of cases

(stage 4) What does the baby extend their behaviour to?

after the specific attachments multiple attachments

(stage 4) how many children form secondary attachments within a month of forming a primary attachment?

29%

What was the aim of the investigation?

To investigate the formation of early attachments; in particular the age at which they developed, their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed.

How many babies were used in the study?

60 babies

How many male babies and female babies were there?

31 male and 29 female

Where were the babies from?

Working class homes in Glasgow

How often were babies and mothers visited?

Every month for the first year and again at 18 months

How were the attachment behaviours studied?

Observations and interviews

What were Mothers questioned about?

The kind of protest babies showed in 7 everyday situations. Also assessed stranger anxiety.