Key Study: Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Key Study: Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

1. The study involved 60 babies - 31 male, 29 female. All were from Glasgow and the majority were from skilled working-class families.

2. Schaffer and Emerson 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.

   • The study was carried out in the families' own homes and most of the observations were done by the parents during ordinary activities. This means the behaviour of the babies was unlikely to be affected by the presence of observers, resulting in good external validity.
   • The study was carried out longitudinally - the same children were followed up and observed regularly. These have better internal validity than cross-sectional design - observing different children at each age. Longitudinal studies do not have the confounding variable of individual differences between participants.
   • The fact all the families were from the same district and social class in the same city and at a time of over 50 years ago is a limitation. Child-rearing practices vary from one culture to another and one historical period to another. So, these results do not necessarily generalise well to other social and historical contexts.

3. The babies and their mothers were visited at home every month for the first year and again at 18 months.

   • The mothers were asked about the kind of protest their babies showed in seven everyday separations e.g. adult leaving the room (separation anxiety). This was used to measure the infant's attachment.
   • The researchers also assessed stranger anxiety - the infant's anxiety response to unfamiliar adults.

4. Between 25 and 32 weeks of age about 50% of the babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the mother (specific attachment).

5. Attachment tended to be towards the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expression (i.e. reciprocity). This was not necessary whom the infant spent most time with.

6. By the age of 40 weeks 80% of babies had a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.