Ainsworth's Strange Situation + Attachment Types Flashcards
Strange Situation
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
Proxinity seeking
A baby with good quality attachment will stay fairly close to caregiver
Exploration + secure base behaviour
good attachment enables baby to confidently explore + use PCG as a point of contact that will make them feel safe
Stranger anxiety
Sign of becoming closely attached is displaying anxiety when a stranger approaches
Separation Anxiety
Being attached = protesting separation from PCG
Response to reunion
Securely attached will greet PCG’s return with pleasure + seek comfort
Procedure - (1)
Baby is encouraged to explore - tests exploration + secure base behaviour
Procedure (2)
A stranger comes in talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby
=> Tests stranger anxiety
Procedure (3)
The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together
=> Tests separation + stranger anxiety
Procedure (4)
The caregiver returns and stranger leaves
=>Tests reunion behaviour + exploration/secure base
Procedure (5)
The caregiver leaves the baby alone
=> Tests separation anxiety
Procedure (6)
The stranger returns
=> Tests stranger anxiety
Procedure (7)
The caregiver returns + is reunited with the baby
=> Tests reunion behaviour
Findings
Found distinct patterns in the ways the babies behaved
Identified as 3 main types of attachment
Secure Attachment (Type B)
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
Insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A)
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
Insecure-resistant Attachment (Type C)
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
Good Predictive Validity in baby’s later development (S)
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
Counter to Good Predictive Validity (L)
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
Good Reliability (S)
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
Test may be culture-bound (L)
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
AO3 Extra - Other Attachment Types
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
