Types of attachment (strange situation)

• Why do children develop their attachment types?

  insecure attachment: needs of child were inconsistently met

  Secure attachment: needs of child were consistently met
• Procedures of ainsworth strange situation

  Controlled observation to measure attachment between babies + mothers, 106 UK babies in seven 3 min stages: baby explores room, stranger enters, mum leaves + stranger plays with baby, mum returns, adults leave, stranger returns, mum returns
• Findings of ainsworth strange situation

  Insecure avoidant: dont care for attachment

  Insecure resistant: need specific attachment

  Secure: normal behaviour

  Secure was most common then avoidant then resistant
• What were the Observations of ainsworth strange situation

  Proximity seeking = actions with mother

  Exploration from secure base = distance from mother travelled

  Stranger anxiety

  Separation anxiety

  Response at reunion
• What was an avoidant childs attitude for different observations in the strange situation

  Proximity= Low

  Exploration = High

  Stranger anxiety = low

  Seperation anxiety = low

  Reunion = doesnt care
• What was a secure childs behaviour during observations in the strange situation

  Proximity = moderate

  Exploration = moderate

  Stranger anxiety = moderate

  Separation anxiety = moderate

  Reunion = easily comforted
• What was an insecure resistant childs behaviour during observations in the strange situation

  Proximity = high

  Exploration = low

  Stranger anxiety = high

  Separation anxiety = high

  Reunion = upset
• What is a strength of the strange situation for measuring attachment types

  Good inter-rater reliability, 94% agreement, high control
• What is a weakness of the strange situation for measuring attachment types

  Lack validity as it could measure temperament instead of attachment type - baby can be genetically anxious
• What is a weakness of the strange situation for measuring attachment types

  Culturally bias to west = eastern babies are separated less so anxiety more extreme