types of attachment

• strange situation - a controlled observation designs to test attachment security, babies are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited with their carer
• secure attachment - generally thought of as the most desirable attachment type, associated w/ psychologically healthy outcomes. in the SS, this is shown by moderate stranger and separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion
• insecure - avoidant attachment - a type of attachment characterised by low anxiety but weak attachment. in the SS, this is shown by low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion, maybe even avoidance of the caregiver
• insecure - resistant attachment - a type of attachment characterised by strong attachment and high anxiety. in the SS, this is shown by high levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by resistance to being comforted at reunion
• Ainsworth worked with Bowlby on the development of attachment theory and her contribution was to produce a method to assess the quality of attachment between a baby and others and this is still used today - the strange situation
• what are the three types of attachment?

  secure, insecure - avoidant, insecure - resistant