Ainsworth Flashcards
What is Mary Ainsworth’s theory?
Mary Ainsworth’s theory states that children and infants need to develop a secure dependance on their parents or caregivers before seeking unfamiliar situations.
Based on experiments she conducted, she concluded that early childhood experiences can result in development of attachment styles and can affect an individual’s relationship and behaviours for the rest of their lives.
What are the 8 criticisms of Ainsworth and explain them?
- Ainsworth’s research was mainly conducted with middle-class American families, leading to concerns that her findings may not apply to different cultures where attachment styles can vary.
- Oversimplification of Attachment Styles
Her classification of attachment styles (secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant) is viewed as too simplistic, as attachment behaviours are complex and may require additional categories, such as disorganised attachment. - Methodological Limitations
The Strange Situation is a lab-based study, which may not accurately reflect attachment behaviours in real-life situations, raising concerns about its ecological validity. - Focus on Maternal Attachment
Ainsworth’s research primarily focuses on mother-child relationships, neglecting the role of fathers and other caregivers in attachment formation. - Neglect of Other Influencing Factors
The study emphasises the caregiver’s role in attachment but overlooks factors like temperament, genetics, and the broader social environment that can influence attachment behaviour. - Reliability of the Strange Situation
Some studies question the reliability and consistency of the Strange Situation due to variations in child behaviour and caregiver responses during the procedure. - Outdated Terminology
The terms “secure” and “insecure” may carry negative connotations, implying that children with insecure attachments are deficient. - Emotional Impact on Children
The Strange Situation can be distressing for children, raising ethical concerns about the emotional impact of inducing separation and anxiety.
These criticisms underscore the complexity of attachment theory and the need for a broader understanding of attachment behaviours across cultures and contexts.
What are the four types of attachment?
Secure attachment
Insecure-avoidant
Insecure-ambivalent
Disorganised: (added 1986 by Main and Soloman)
What is secure attachment?
Child feels safe and trusts the caregiver, uses them as a secure base. Becomes upset when caregiver leaves but is easily comforted when they return.
Caregiver is responsive and sensitive to the child’s needs. Secure base to return to.
Child shows distress when separated, joy at reunion, and easily soothed
As a result the child learns to trust the caregiver and feels safe exploring the world, knowing they have a secure base to return to.
Stable parent with time for the child
Tend to have healthy balanced relationships in adulthood. Comfortable with intimacy, trust their partners, and maintain independence without severe anxiety. Handle conflicts well and can seek support.
What is insecure avoidant
Attachment?
Child avoids or ignores caregiver, showing little emotion when they leave or return, they do not seek much contact or comfort from the caregiver.
Caregiver is emotionally unavailable or unresponsive to the child’s needs. Rejecting to the child’s distress.
Child shows no distress on separation, lack of concern when caregiver returns, avoids them.
As a result the child becomes more independent, avoiding the caregiver and suppresses their emotional needs, not expecting others for comfort.
Parent with mental health or physical issues, stress causing job, frustration or lack of time for child.
In adulthood may avoid close relationships, difficulty with emotional intimacy, distant, self-reliant, uncomfortable with dependency. Struggle opening up, emotionally unavailable.
What is Insecure ambivalent attachment?
Child is clingy and anxious, shows mixed reactions to the caregiver. They are difficult to soothe even when the caregiver returns.
Caregiver is inconsistent in meeting the child’s needs. Sometimes responsive, sometimes rejecting or neglectful. Receives unpredictable care.
Child shows high distress on separation, but remains anxious or even angry on their reunion.
As a result the child becomes clingy, anxious, and unsure about wether their needs will be met, leading to intense separation anxiety and difficulty calming down.
Parent struggling with addiction or mental health conditions like anxiety.
In adulthood may be overly dependant on their partners, clingy or anxious behaviour, fear of abandonment and crave reassurance, jealousy, sensitivity to others actions. Trust issues.
What is disorganized attachment?
Added 1986 by Main and Solomon
Child shows inconsistent, confused or contradictory behavior towards the caregiver. They may approach but then freeze or show uncertainty.
Caregiver is often frightening, neglectful or abusive, leading to fear without a solution.
Child displays odd, unpredictable reactions showing uncertainty in how to respond to the caregiver or what to expect. Confusion on wether to seek comfort or be frightened.
As a result the child develops confused, unpredictable behaviour, showing fear or disorientation towards the caregiver as they don’t know how to interact or seek comfort. Child is both afraid and dependant on the caregiver leading to confusion.
Parent with untreated trauma or severe untreated mental conditions like bipolar or schizophrenia. Abusive or traumatises the child, severe neglect.
-in adulthood may have chaotic, unpredictable relationships, struggle with trust and fear, desire intimacy but fear it. Intense emotional highs and lows in relationships, instability or toxic relationships.
What are some positives of her theory?
The attachment styles are widely used still in parenting advice and therapy.
It was a replicable method- consistent results- showing reliability.
Predicts future outcomes of behaviour and relationships from the result of early attachment.
Highlighted the effects of early attachments to new parents.
