Types of Attachment

Subdecks (1)

Cards (12)

  • Strange Situation
    The strange situation is a controlled observational procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a baby displays towards a caregiver. It takes place in a room with quite controlled conditions with a two-way mirror & cameras through which psychogists could observe the baby’s behaviour.
  • Strange Situation - measuring
    • proximity seeking - staying fairly close to caregiver.
    • exploration & secure base - baby feels confident enough to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base.
    • stranger anxiety- display signs of anxiety + distress when a stranger approaches
    • separation anxiety - displays anxiety + protest when caregive leaves
    • response to reunion- seeks pleasure & comfort from caregiver once they return.
  • In unfamiliar playroom
    • 3 mins / baby encouraged to explore / exploration and secure base
    • 3 mins / stranger approaches baby / stranger anxiety
    • 3 mins / PAF leaves / separation + stranger anxiety
    • 3 mins / PAF returns + stranger leaves / reunion behaviour + exploration + secure base
    • 3 mins / PAF leaves / separation anxiety
    • 3 mins / stranger returns / stranger anxiety
    • 3 mins / PAF returns / reunion behaviour
  • Insecure avoidant attachment
    • Type A - babies explore freely; don't seek proximity or show secure base behaviour.
    • Show little or no reaction when the caregiver leaves & little stranger anxiety.
    • They make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns and may even avoid such contact.
    • 20%-25%. of British babies are classified as insecure avoidant.
  • Secure attachment
    • Type B- babies explore happily; regularly go back to their caregiver. (proximity seeking, secure base behaviour).
    • Show moderate separation distress & moderate stranger anxiety.
    • Babies require & accept comfort from the caregiver in the reunion stage.
    • 60% - 75% of British babies are classified as secure.
  • Insecure-resistant attachment
    • Type C - babies seek greater proximity than others & so explore less.
    • They show high levels of stranger and separation distress
    • But they resist comfort when reunited with their caregiver.
    • Around 3% of Brtish babies are classified as insecure-resistant.