Ainsworth’s strange situation + cultural variations

• What are the variations in children's interactions with their mothers?

  Some are independent, others are clingy
• What is the focus of Mary Ainsworth's research?

  To categorize early attachment styles in infants
• What technique did Ainsworth develop to assess attachment?

  The Strange Situation
• What did Ainsworth's research find about attachment styles across cultures?

  Similarities and differences in attachment styles
• What behaviors indicate the strength of an infant's attachment?

  Closeness to mother, anxiety around strangers
• What is meant by "using the mother as a secure base"?

  Infants return to mother for reassurance
• What is a key behavior of insecure avoidant attachment (Type A)?

  Limited distress upon separation
• How do mothers of insecure avoidant infants typically behave?

  They show less responsiveness to needs
• What characterizes secure attachment (Type B) infants?

  Confidence in exploring, moderate stranger anxiety
• What is a behavior of insecure resistant attachment (Type C) infants?

  Clinginess and high anxiety around strangers
• What does the Strange Situation assess?

  Infant and mother responses to separation
• What are the stages of the Strange Situation designed to assess?

  • Infant's willingness to explore
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Reunion behavior
  • Coping with solitude
• What percentage of infants in Ainsworth's study were securely attached?

  About two-thirds of the sample
• What is the behavior of insecure avoidant infants during the Strange Situation?

  Indifferent to mother's departure and return
• What percentage of infants were classified as insecure resistant (Type C)?

  12% of the sample
• What does Ainsworth's research suggest about maternal sensitivity?

  It shapes attachment types in infants
• What are the strengths of the Strange Situation as a study?

  • Structured observation with controlled conditions
  • Well-defined behavior categories
  • High replicability and predict validity
• What is a potential limitation of the Strange Situation?

  It may be culture-bound and ethnocentric
• What does imposed etic refer to in this context?

  Applying one culture's norms to all cultures
• What alternative perspective does Kagan provide regarding attachment styles?

  Attachment style may reflect biological temperament
• What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis reveal about attachment styles?

  • Secure attachment is most prevalent globally
  • Avoidant attachment more common in Western cultures
  • Resistant attachment more common in collectivist cultures
• What country had the highest percentage of avoidant infants?

  Germany
• What percentage of securely attached infants was recorded in China?

  50%
• What does the term "cultural bias" refer to in attachment studies?

  Assuming Western norms apply to all cultures
• What is a limitation of Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's findings?

  Some countries had only one study represented
• What does the term "monolithic blocks" imply about cultures?

  Cultures have significant internal diversity
• What are the advantages of a large sample size in attachment studies?

  • Dilutes impact of poorly conducted studies
  • Increases confidence in overall findings
  • Provides a more representative sample
• What is a potential issue with the environment of the Strange Situation?

  It doesn't mimic the home environment
• How might the awareness of observation affect mothers in the Strange Situation?

  Mothers may act more caring than usual
• What did Simonelli's study find about modern Italian infants?

  Reduction in securely attached infants
• What does the dominance of secure attachment suggest about parenting?

  It may be an inherited biological drive
• What is a limitation of the findings regarding attachment styles in different cultures?

  Variation within countries is often larger
• What is the risk of assuming Western attachment norms are superior?

  It leads to cultural bias in research