Types of attachment

• Secure attachment

  > Willing to explore environment - uses mother as a secure base

  > Upset/ subdued when mother leaves

  > Avoidant of stranger but friendly when mother is present

  > Positive/ happy when mother returns

  Associated with a responsive caregiver
• Insecure - avoidant

  > Willing to explore the environment

  > Unconcerned by mothers absence

  > Unconcerned, often avoidant of mother and stranger

  > Unresponsive when mother returns

  Associated with an unresponsive primary caregiver
• Insecure - resistant

  > Low willingness to explore

  > Intensely distressed when mother left

  > Extreme fear of stranger

  > Clinginess mixed with rejection on return

  Associated with inconsistent caregivers
• Types of attachment AO3

  :( Lacks ecological validity

  > Takes place in a controlled environment

  > May not be appropriate to generalise findings to real life attachment types as infants may alter how they behave in an unnatural environment
• Types of attachment AO3

  :) High in reliability

  > Controlled setting, using a standardised procedure

  > eg. each variable was assessed of 3 minute intervals

  > Observation can be repeated again in the same conditions in order to check for consistent results
• Types of attachment AO3

  :) RTS Van Izendoorn and Kroonenberg

  > Replicated strange situation in the USA and found consistent results to Ainsworths

  > 65% secure

  21% insecure avoidant

  14% insecure resistant

  > Providing support of the strange situation as a way of assessing attachment types