Types of Attachment

• Types of Attachment:

  • Once the Strange Situation was developed, Ainsworth et al (1978) used it to assess 106 infant-caregiver relationships, & the findings indicated 3 patterns of attachment type, ie the children fit into one of the 3 categories, each with distinct behaviours in the SS:
  • 1-Secure (66% of sample)
  • 2-Insecure-avoidant (22%)
  • 3-Insecure-resistant (12%)
• Differences in attachment type are caused by primary caregiver's sensitivity towards child:

  • If responsive/ sensitive- secure
  • If unresponsive/ insensitive- avoidant
  • If inconsistent- resistant
• Ainsworth et al 1978 findings: 1

  • Secure Attachment & Separation Anxiety- some upset when mother leaves, but easy to sooth.
  • Insecure-avoidant Attachment & Separation Anxiety- indifferent, infant shows no sign of distress when mother leaves & is unconcerned.
  • Insecure-resistant Attachment & Separation Anxiety- high, infant shows signs of intense distress.
• Ainsworth et al 1978 findings: 2

  • Secure Attachment & Stranger Anxiety- moderate, avoidant of stranger when alone, but friendly when mother present.
  • Insecure-avoidant Attachment & Stranger Anxiety- low, infant is okay with the stranger & plays normally when stranger is present.
  • Insecure-resistant Attachment & Stranger Anxiety- high, infant avoids the stranger & shows fear of stranger.
• Ainsworth et al 1978 findings: 3

  • Secure Attachment & Reunion Behaviour- enthusiastic, positive & happy when mother returns.
  • Insecure-avoidant Attachment & Reunion Behaviour- avoids contact, infant shows little interest when mother returns.
  • Insecure-resistant Attachment & Reunion Behaviour- seeks then rejects, child approaches mother but resists contact & may even push her away.
• Ainsworth et al 1978 findings: 4

  • Secure Attachment & Willingness to explore- high, will use the mother as a safe base to explore their environment.
  • Insecure-avoidant Attachment & Willingness to explore- high, doesn't look back to mother for security.
  • Insecure-resistant Attachment & Willingness to explore- low, lacks confidence in exploration of environment.
• Hazan & Shaver's 1987 Love Quiz Study:

  • Placed a 'love quiz' in an American small-town publication, & the quiz asked questions about current attachment experiences & about attachment history, to identify current & childhood attachment types.
  • The questionnaire also asked questions about attitudes towards love.
  • They analysed 620 responses, 205 from men & 415 from women.
• Hazan & Shaver's 1987 Love Quiz study findings:

  • When analysing self-report of attachment history, they found that the prevalence of attachment style was similar to that found in infancy.
  • Eg, 56% were classified as secure, 25% as avoidant, 19% as resistant.
  • Found a positive correlation between attachment type & love experiences.
• Evaluation for attachment types- strength:

  • There's evidence that Ainsworth's attachment types are reliable & enduring.
  • Hazan & Shaver (1987) conducted the Love Quiz study & found that early attachment type correlated with the quality of adult romantic relationships & even divorce rates.
  • Indicates the attachment types identified by Ainsworth are a stable feature of emotional development.
• Evaluation for attachment types- strength:

  • There are practical applications of Ainsworth's attachment types research.
  • Identifying insecure attachments can be used to help caregivers be more responsive to their infants & therefore change them from insecure to secure.
  • Improving children's lives is a huge strength, as it has the potential to increase well-being, both short & long term, & break the cycle of poor parenting.
• Evaluation for attachment types- weakness:

  • Not all attachments fit into the 3 categories.
  • Main & Solomon (1986) identified a fourth attachment type, which they called insecure-disorganised, which has a different pattern in the Strange Situation, eg they can show signs of both strong attachment & then avoidance.
  • Indicates that Ainsworth's account of different attachment types was incomplete & needed to be reviewed to include this 4th type.
• Evaluation for attachment types- weakness:

  • The method used to assess attachment types (the strange situation) is flawed.
  • Are problems with the assessment method, which may mean that the findings are also flawed & would mean that the theory on attachment types is inaccurate.