Types of attachment

• Who researched types of attachment?

  Ainsworth and Bell (1970)
• what was ainsworth and bells study called


  strange situation
• briefly explain what the strange situation was

  • it was developed as a method to assess the quality of a baby’s attachment to a caregiver
  • its a controlled observation procedure in a lab (controlled environment) with a two way mirror through which a psychologist can observe a babies behaviour
• (procedure) what were the 5 categories used to judge attachment quality

  1. proximity seeking - well attached babies stay close to caregiver
  2. exploration and secure base behaviour - good attachment makes a baby confident to explore, using the caregiver as point of safety
  3. stranger anxiety - displayed by well attached babies
  4. separation anxiety - displayed by well attached babies
  5. response to union with the caregiver after separation for a short period of time - well attached babies are enthusiastic
• the procedure has 7 ‘episodes’ each lasting 3 minutes:

  1. the baby is encouraged to explore by caregiver
  2. stranger enters and talks to caregiver, approaches baby
  3. caregiver leaves
  4. caregiver returns, stranger leaves
  5. caregiver leaves baby along
  6. stranger returns
  7. caregiver returns
• findings of the strange situation:

  ainsworth and bell found distinct patterns in the way babies behaved. they identified three main types of attachment:

  1. secure attachment
  2. insecure avoidant attachment
  3. insecure resistant
• explain secure attachment (findings)

  • Type b: 60-75% of british toddlers
  • baby happy to explore but seek proximity to caregiver (secure base)
  • shows moderate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
  • requires and accepts comfort from caregiver on reunion
• explain insecure avoidant attachment (findings)

  • type A: 20-25% of British toddlers
  • baby explores freely but does not seek proximity (no secure base)
  • shows little/no separation and stranger anxiety
  • avoids contact at the reunion stage
• explain insecure resistant attachment (findings)

  • type C: 3% of british toddlers
  • baby explore less and seeks greater proximity
  • shows considerable stranger and separation anxiety
  • resists comfort when reunited with caregiver
• one strength of the strange situation is that it has good predictive validity

  attachment type predicts later Developement. for example, secure babies typically have greater success at school (McCormick 2016). in contrast, insecure resistant attachment is associated with the worst outcomes e.g. bullying (Kokkinos 2007) and adult mental health problems (ward 2006). this is evidence for the validity of the concept because it can explain (predict) future outcomes
• one strength is the strange situation has good predictive validity: counterpoint 


  although the strange situation measures something that predicts later Developement, it may be measuring genetic differences in anxiety (Kagan 1982). this means the strange situation may not actually measure attachment.
• Another strength is the strange situation has good inter-rater reliability 


  Different observers watching the same babies generally agree on attachment type. Bick (2012) found 94% agreement in one team. This may be because the strange situation takes place under controlled conditions and because the behavioural categories are easy to observe. This means that we can be confident that the attachment type of a baby identified in the strange situation does not just depend on who is observing them
• one limitation is that the strange situation may be a culture bound test


  the strange situation test might not have the same meaning in countries outside Europe and the US where it was created. cultural differences in children’s experiences mean they respond differently e.g. Japanese babies show anxiety because they are not used to being left by the caregiver (Takahashi 1986). this means its difficult to know what the strange situation is measuring in some countries/cultures
• one strength is that the strange situation led to other attachment types

  Main and Solomon (1986) identified a fourth category of attachment - disorganised (type d), a mix of resistant and avoidant behaviours. however, type D babies are unusual and have generally experienced some form of severe neglect of abuse, associated with later psychological disorders. this means that ainsworths classification is adequate as a description of normal variations in attachment.