types of attachment

• ainsworth:

  • shared distrust cupboard love + learning theory
• strange situation:

  • aimed to create categories of attachment that were distinct + measurable
  • controlled observation, room was lab with 2 way mirror - covert but with consent, non participant
  • wanted to judge infant's attachments + ranked on scale 1-7
• strange situation procedure:

  • 1 - child encouraged to explore (tests explanation + secure base)
  • 2 - stranger comes in + tries to interact - stranger anxiety
  • 3 - stranger + child left alone - separation + stranger
  • 4 - stranger leaves + mother returns - reunion, secure base
  • 5 - caregiver leaves child alone - separation
  • 6- stranger returns - stranger
  • 7 - caregiver returns - reunion
• insecure avoidant behaviours:

  • proximity seeking - doesnt seek
  • exploration/secure base - doesnt display secure base
  • stranger anxiety - doesnt show distress
  • separation anxiety - doesnt show distress
  • reunion - avoid comfort
• secure behaviours:

  • proximity seeking - seeks proximity
  • exploration/secure base - explore happily, but returns back to secure base
  • stranger anxiety - moderate distress
  • separation anxiety - moderate distress
  • reunion - accept comfort
• insecure resistant behaviours:

  • proximity seeking - seek greater proximity
  • exploration/secure base - explore less
  • stranger anxiety - extreme distress
  • separation anxiety - extreme distress
  • reunion - resist comfort
• strange situation findings:

  • 3 main types of attachment
  • insecure resistant, insecure avoidant, secure
• type A (insecure avoidant):

  • parents are typically unavailable + unresponsive e.g discourage crying
  • 20-25% British toddlers
  • strange situation = 22%
• type B (secure):

  • parents are nurturing, emotionally available + consistent
  • 60-75% of British toddlers
  • strange situation = 66%
• type C (insecure resistant):

  • parents are inconsistent - responsive + unavailable, leads to confusion
  • 3% of british toddlers
  • strange situation = 12%
• EVALUATION: reliability

  • several observers - agreement on attachment classifications , Ainsworth et al = 94% agreement
  • inter observer reliability - strong accurate trustworthy findings
  • high levels of control - data is trustworthy in explaining attachments
• EVALUATION: good predicative validity

  • McCamick et al - found securely attached more likely to do better in school, less involved in bullying + better mental health
  • early attachment is meaningful indicator of baby's development + influence in later life
  • strange situation is useful for predicting attachment types in later life
• EVALUATION: another attachment type

  • main + soleman - analysed several videotapes, suggested another type was overlooked, some showed inconsistent patterns (type D - disorganised attachment)
  • metanalysis (Van Ijzendoorn et al) - 15% classified as type D
  • conflict in research, >3 types of attachments
• EVALUATION: lack of ecological validity

  • controlled, artificial setting, unfamiliar - children may act differently in unfamiliar environment
  • dont know if behaviours displayed would be same for children in novel environment
  • causes issues for findings - may not be applicable to real world setting