Ainsworth's Strange Situation - Types of Attachment Flashcards
What were Mary Ainsworth and Sylvia Bell (1970) interested in exploring
The differences in and the quality of the attachments of infants
What did Ainsworth develop to study the differences in and the quality of the attachments of infants
A structured observation known as the “strange situation”
How was the strange situation a structured observation
It was conducted in a lab using a one way mirror and cameras to view and assess attachment.
Who took part in the strange situation (A01)
106 middle-class, 9-18 month old, American infants and their mothers
When was the infants behaviour observed (A01)
The infant’s behaviour was observed during a set of pre-determined activities.
What were the pre-determined activities (A01)
Introducing mother and child to the room, child playing with toys, stranger entering, mother leaving, stranger interacting with child, mother returning, child left on own, stranger returning and mother returning.
What did the observers record (A01)
Infants’ responses at each stage.
How long did each of the pre-determined activities / stages last (A01)
3 minutes
What did each stage assess (A01)
The infant’s proximity to their mother, willingness to explore, use of their mother as a secure base, stranger anxiety, separation anxiety, reunion response, and the sensitive responsiveness of the mother to the infant’s needs.
Explain proximity seeking
An infant with good attachment will stay close to the caregiver
Explain exploration and secure base behaviour
Good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore.
Explain stranger anxiety
A sign of attachment is to show anxiety when a stranger approaches
Explain separation anxiety
A sign of attachment is to show anxiety when seperated from the mother
Explain response to reunion
How the child reacts upon being reunited with caregiver
What were Ainsworth’s findings
Children explored the room more enthusiastically with mother present than absent.
Reunions with the mother indicates 3 types of attachment:
Type A – Insecure-Avoidant
Type B – Securely Attached
Type C – Insecure-Resistant
How does an infant with a secure attachment act in the strange situation
60 - 75% of British babies. Explores environment but returns periodically to caregiver, moderate anxiety e.g. stranger and mother treated differently, easily calmed at reunion e.g. sought comfort and then continued to play, played contently with mother present (didn’t matter if stranger was present too)
How does an infant with a insecure avoidant attachment act in the strange situation
20 - 25% British babies. Explores freely but little contact with caregiver, low anxiety e.g. with stranger or when mother left, ignores or avoids contact at reunion
How does an infant with a insecure resistant attachment act in the strange situation
3% British babies. Little exploration, high anxiety e.g. stranger and separation, sought contact upon return but simultaneously showed anger, fighting her contact
What did Ainsworth argue causes differences in attachment type
The sensitivity of the mother to the infants needs. E.g. mothers who read their infants well produce securely attached infants.
Give 4 evaluation topics
There may be more than 3 attachment types….disorganised attachment….
Cultural bias
Only measured the attachment to one attachment figure
Ecological validity
