Ainsworth's Strange Situation + Attachment Types

Question 1

Strange Situation

Answer 1

A controlled observation designed to observe key attachment behaviour + measure security of attachment

Takes place in a room with a 2 way mirror and/or cameras for psychologists can observe baby’s behaviour

Question 2

Proxinity seeking

Answer 2

A baby with good quality attachment will stay fairly close to caregiver

Question 3

Exploration + secure base behaviour

Answer 3

good attachment enables baby to confidently explore + use PCG as a point of contact that will make them feel safe

Question 4

Stranger anxiety

Answer 4

Sign of becoming closely attached is displaying anxiety when a stranger approaches

Question 5

Separation Anxiety

Answer 5

Being attached = protesting separation from PCG

Question 6

Response to reunion

Answer 6

Securely attached will greet PCG’s return with pleasure + seek comfort

Question 7

Procedure - (1)

Answer 7

Baby is encouraged to explore - tests exploration + secure base behaviour

Question 8

Procedure (2)

Answer 8

A stranger comes in talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby
=> Tests stranger anxiety

Question 9

Procedure (3)

Answer 9

The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together

=> Tests separation + stranger anxiety

Question 10

Procedure (4)

Answer 10

The caregiver returns and stranger leaves

=>Tests reunion behaviour + exploration/secure base

Question 11

Procedure (5)

Answer 11

The caregiver leaves the baby alone

=> Tests separation anxiety

Question 12

Procedure (6)

Answer 12

The stranger returns

=> Tests stranger anxiety

Question 13

Procedure (7)

Answer 13

The caregiver returns + is reunited with the baby

=> Tests reunion behaviour

Question 14

Findings

Answer 14

Found distinct patterns in the ways the babies behaved

Identified as 3 main types of attachment

Question 15

Secure Attachment (Type B)

Answer 15

Around 60-75% of British babies are classified as Type B

• Proximity-seeking/secure-base behaviour : babies explore happily but regularly return to PCG
• Separation + stranger anxiety : Moderate
• Reunion Behaviour : require + seek comfort from PCG

Question 16

Insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A)

Answer 16

About 20-25% of British babies are Type A

• Proximity-seeking/secure-base behaviour : explores freely but don’t seek proximity
• Separation + stranger anxiety : little to no reaction to either
• Reunion behaviour : make little effort to make contact when PCG returns + may avoid contact

Question 17

Insecure-resistant Attachment (Type C)

Answer 17

Around 3% of British babies are Type C

• Proximity-seeking/secure-base behaviour: seek greater proximity than others and explore less
• Separation + stranger anxiety : High
• Reunion Behaviour : resist comfort when reunited w/ PCG

Question 18

Good Predictive Validity in baby’s later development (S)

Answer 18

Large body of research shows Type B tend to have better outcomes than others

Childhood - better achievement in school + less involved in bullying (McCormick)
Adulthood - better mental health

Type C and not falling into types have worst outcomes
SUGGESTS Strange situation measures something tangible about development

Question 19

Counter to Good Predictive Validity (L)

Answer 19

Kagan (‘82) - suggested genetically-influenced anxiety levels could account for variations in attachment in SS and later development

SUGGESTS Strange Situation may not measure attachment

Question 20

Good Reliability (S)

Answer 20

Bick - tested inter-rater reliability for SS w/ trained observers + found agreement in attachment type in 94% of cases

=> may be due to controlled conditions + behaviours involve large movement (crawling away from stranger) that are easy to observe

SUGGESTS attachment type assessed by SS doesn’t depend on subjective judgements

Question 21

Test may be culture-bound (L)

Answer 21

Was develop in Britain + USA so may be valid for Western cultures

Babies have diff. experiences in diff. cultures which affect response to SS
e.g. Takahashi’s Japanese study displaying high levels of Type C attachment due to mother-baby separation being rare in Japan

SUGGESTS it’s difficult to know what the SS is measuring outside of western Europe + the USA

Question 22

AO3 Extra - Other Attachment Types

Answer 22

Main + Solomon identified a 4th category - Type D which has a mix of resistant and avoidant behaviours

However, Type D babies have generally experienced some form of severe neglect or abuse, going on to develop psychological disorders by adulthood