Types of Attachment

• Who designed the 'Strange Situation' study?

  Mary Ainsworth
• What is the purpose of Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' study?


  To assess how securely attached a child is to its caregiver
• How was the 'Strange Situation' study conducted?


  Through a controlled observation using a two-way mirror
• What are the seven stages of the 'Strange Situation' study?


  1. Caregiver enters, places child on floor, sits without interaction.
  2. Stranger enters, talks to caregiver, approaches child with a toy.
  3. Caregiver exits; stranger observes and interacts if needed.
  4. Caregiver returns; stranger leaves.
  5. Caregiver leaves briefly; child is alone.
  6. Stranger enters again; repeats previous behavior.
  7. Stranger leaves; caregiver returns.
• What types of behaviors does the 'Strange Situation' observe in children?


  Separation anxiety and stress/regulation
• What are the three types of attachments identified by Ainsworth?


  1. Secure attachment
  2. Insecure resistant attachment
  3. Insecure avoidant attachment
• What characterizes a secure attachment in infants?


  Some separation anxiety but easily soothed upon caregiver's return
• What percentage of children are typically classified as securely attached?


  66%
• What happens in the case of an insecure resistant attachment?


  The infant becomes very distressed and tries to follow the caregiver when they leave
• What is a limitation regarding the attachment figure in Ainsworth's study?


  • Only measured attachment with one figure (usually the mother)
  • May misidentify attachment type if the child is closer to another caregiver
  • Lacks internal validity due to this limitation
• What ethical issues were raised in Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' study?


  20% of children cried desperately, indicating potential psychological harm
• What is a cultural limitation of Ainsworth's study?


  • Primarily based on Western culture
  • Conducted mostly in America
  • Results may not generalize to other cultures due to cultural bias
• What is a limitation regarding the ecological validity of the 'Strange Situation' study?


  • Conducted in a lab setting with controlled variables
  • Lacks mundane realism and generalizability to real-life situations
  • High control increases reliability but reduces ecological validity
• What is the significance of the high control of variables in Ainsworth's study?


  It increases the reliability of the findings
• How does the 'Strange Situation' contribute to understanding attachment classifications?


  It provides a structured way to assess attachment types in children