Types of attachment

• Strange situation 


  Ainsworth
• behaviours identified in strange situation

  • proximity seeking
  • exploration / secure base behaviour
  • response to reunion
  • stranger anxiety
  • separation anxiety
• findings of strange situation / types of attachment

  1. insecure avoidant
  2. secure
  3. insecure resistant
• Type A/ insecure avoidant

  • 22%
  • no reactions
  • no proximity seeking
  • no stranger/ separation anxiety
• Type B / secure attachment

  • 66%
  • response on reunion
  • stranger/ separation anxiety
  • easily comforted
  • secure base / exploration
• Type C / insecure resistant

  • 12%
  • high distress
  • hard to comfort
• Type D / disorganised

  Main and Solomon

  mix of resistant and avoidant

  leads to psychological disorder
• strengths of strange situation

  • in lab = controlled = reliability
  • predicts later attachment= internal working model
• weaknesses of strange situation

  • unethical /distressing for baby
  • only sued mothers
  • not generalisable
  • low validity