Types of attachment

• what is secure attachment (Ainsworth)?

  • infant explores unfamiliar environment returning to caregiver at regular intervals - using them as a secure-base
  • moderate separation/stranger anxiety - infant's play is disrupted when caregiver leaves and may get upset/will move close to caregiver when stranger is present
  • infant is pleased to see caregiver upon arrival and seeks proximity - shows joy on reunion
• what is insecure-avoidant attachment (Ainsworth)?

  • infant explores unfamiliar environment but doesn't return to caregiver and doesn't use them as a secure-base
  • low separation/stranger anxiety - not concerned about caregiver leaving/unconcerned about stranger presence
  • shows little to no reaction upon caregivers return - often ignores them - doesn't seek proximity upon reunion and avoids intimacy
• what is insecure-avoidant attachment?

  • infant doesn't explore environment and chooses to stay close to caregiver e.g. very clingy
  • high separation/stranger anxiety - extreme distress when caregiver leaves/extreme distress when stranger goes to comfort them
  • infant not easily comforted by caregiver upon arrival and rejects/resists caregiver's attempts of comfort upon return
• Strength of Ainsworth's attachment types

  • They can predict later development (predictive validity) - childhood/romantic relationships -Secure babies typically have greater success at school and more long-lasting romantic relationships
  • high validity - strict controlled methods, using predetermined categories, several observers watching recording- high inter-rater reliability - OBJECTIVE
• Limitations of Ainsworth's Strange Situation

  • lack of ecological validity - unlikely to happen in real-life, in an unfamiliar room which means behaviour doesn't reflect natural behaviour
  • culturally biased - Japanese mothers (Takahashi) are rarely separated from mothers, German - independence rather than insecurity
  • incomplete classification system - Main and Solomon found in SS infants showed inconsistent behaviours - insecure-disorganised