7 Types Of Attachment: Ainsworth Strange Situation Flashcards
What is the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
A controlled observation method devised by Ainsworth et al to test the nature of attachment in infants.
What is the aim of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
To see how infants behave under stress and novelty.
What creates stress in the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The presence of a stranger and the separation from the primary caregiver.
What does the Ainsworth Strange Situation test?
Stranger anxiety and separation anxiety.
What concept does the novel situation in the Ainsworth Strange Situation encourage?
The exploration to test the secure base concept.
What is the size of the research room used in the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
9x9 feet, marked off via squares to record movement.
How many episodes are designed in the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
7 episodes designed to highlight certain behaviors.
How is data collected in the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
Every 15 seconds by a group of observers through a two-way mirror.
What behaviors are noted by researchers in the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
Proximity seeking, exploration & secure base, stranger anxiety, separation anxiety, and reunion behavior.
What happens in Episode 1 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The baby is encouraged to explore.
Tests exploration and secure base.
What happens in Episode 2 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
A stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver, and approaches the baby.
Tests separation and stranger anxiety.
What happens in Episode 3 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together.
Tests separation and stranger anxiety.
What happens in Episode 4 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The stranger interacts with the baby.
Tests stranger anxiety.
What happens in Episode 5 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves.
Tests reunion behavior and exploration secure base.
What happens in Episode 6 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The caregiver leaves the baby again.
Tests separation anxiety.
What happens in Episode 7 of the Ainsworth Strange Situation?
The stranger returns and interacts with the baby.
Tests stranger anxiety.
What percentage of infants have a Secure Attachment (Type B)?
66%
What are the characteristics of Insecure Avoidant (Type A) attachment?
Children avoid social interaction and intimacy. Explore freely but do not seek proximity or secure base behavior. Little to no reaction when caregiver leaves. Make little effort to make contact upon reunion and do not require comfort. Show little stranger anxiety.
What are the characteristics of Secure Attachment (Type B)?
Those who have harmonious and cooperative interactions with their caregivers. They happily explore but often go back to their caregiver. Show moderate separation distress and moderate stranger anxiety. Require and accept comfort from caregiver upon reunion.
What are the characteristics of Insecure Resistant (Type C) attachment?
Seek and reject intimacy and social interaction. Children seek greater proximity than others, therefore explore less. High stranger anxiety and separation distress. Resist comfort upon reunion with caregiver.
What percentage of British children are classified as Insecure Resistant (Type C)?
Only 3%
What is the response of infants with Secure Attachment (Type B) upon reunion with their caregiver?
Require and accept comfort from caregiver upon reunion.
What is the response of infants with Insecure Avoidant (Type A) upon reunion with their caregiver?
Make little effort to make contact upon reunion and do not require comfort.
What is the response of infants with Insecure Resistant (Type C) upon reunion with their caregiver?
Resist comfort upon reunion with caregiver.
What is the level of separation anxiety in Secure Attachment (Type B)?
Moderate
What is the level of separation anxiety in Insecure Avoidant (Type A)?
Low
What is the level of separation anxiety in Insecure Resistant (Type C)?
High
What did McCormick et al (2016) find about securely attached infants?
Securely attached infants had better outcomes, including academic success, more friends, and better romantic relationships.
What issues did resistant infants face according to Kokkinos (2007) and Ward et al (2006)?
Resistant infants were bullied and had adult mental health problems.
What does the evidence from the Strange Situation suggest?
It supports the validity of the concept by predicting future outcomes.
What is a counterargument regarding the Strange Situation’s measurements?
It may not measure genetic differences related to better romantic relationships or anxiety.
What did Ainsworth (1978) find about inter-rater reliability in the Strange Situation?
Ainsworth found an almost perfect agreement of 0.94 when rating exploratory behavior.
What cultural differences affect the Strange Situation’s interpretation?
In non-Western cultures, such as Japan, children may show anxiety due to different caregiving experiences.
What did Main and Solomon (1986) propose after reanalyzing Strange Situation videotapes?
They proposed a fourth attachment type: Disorganized Attachment.
What characterizes Disorganized Attachment?
It is characterized by a lack of consistent patterns of social behavior and a lack of coherent strategies for dealing with stress.
