Types of Attachment

• 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.