Ainsworth's strange situation

Question 1

What are the three attachment types?

Answer 1

Securely attached
Insecure avoidant
Insecure resistant

Question 2

What are characteristics of a securely attached child? (Type B)

Answer 2

There is a strong bond between the child and it’s caregiver
If they are separated they become distressed
When reunited, they are easy to comfort

Question 3

What is securely attached associated with?

Answer 3

A healthy cognitive and emotional development

Question 4

What are characteristics of an insecure-avoidant child? (Type A)

Answer 4

When they are separated from their caregiver, the child doesn’t seem particularly distressed and can usually be comforted by a stranger.
Children with this type generally avoid social interaction and intimacy with others

Question 5

What are characteristics of an insecure-resistant child? (Type C)

Answer 5

They are often uneasy around caregiver
Become upset if separated
Comfort from caregiver resisted
Both accept and reject social interaction and intimacy In later life

Question 6

Outline the procedure for Ainsworth’s strange situation (1978)

Answer 6

• Controlled observation with 12-18 month old infants
• 8 different episodes each 30 seconds including the mother and stranger talking, the mother and infant together, the infant alone and the stranger and the infant together
• They behaviour was observed and measured on a scale; looking for proximity and contact seeking/maintaining/avoidance behaviours

Question 7

What were the results of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 7

• The majority of infants were Type B - securely attached (70%)
• 15% were insecure avoidant (Type A)
• 15% were insecure resistant (Type C)

Question 8

What conclusion can be drawn from Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 8

Sensitive responsiveness was the major factor in determining the quality of attachments as sensitive mothers tended to have more securely attached children

Question 9

What are strengths of the research method used for Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 9

Lab study meant that there was a good control of variables, making the results reliable - further proven by the similar results found in the cross cultural studies

Question 10

What are limitations of the research method used for Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 10

Lab study meant that it was an artificial condition, reducing the ecological validity of the research
The mothers may have changed their behaviour if they knew they were being observed (Demand characteristics) which in turn may have affected the child’s behaviour

Question 11

Any ethical concerns?

Answer 11

The study induced stress on the child to see how they would react but it is argued that it is justified as it gave us insight into how children respond to people like babysitters and childminders

Question 12

Why is it a limitation only looking at mother and child relationships?

Answer 12

It doesn’t look at attachments between father and child and the mother may not be the main attachment figure.

Question 13

What is the issue with the study being in one country?

Answer 13

Ethnocentric therefore limited generalisability - there may be concepts which aren’t familiar in other cultures, for example, leaving the child with a stranger

Question 14

Extra evaluation points?

Answer 14

• There has been a Type D found so this study may have produced an incomplete explanation for attachment types
• There may be too much focus on the infant and not on the mother which will have an impact on the attachment of the child
• Must be informative as it is used as a paradigm for measuring attachment types