Attachment: Ainsworth’s SS - Types Of Attachment Flashcards
What is the purpose of ‘the strange situation’ ?
To assess the strength / type of attachment
‘The strange situation’ used what type of observational method?
Controlled observation
What was Ainsworth’s sample when testing the ‘strange situation’ ?
100 middle-class American infants and their mothers (CG’s)
What four behaviour categories were measured in Ainsworth’s ‘strange situation’ ?
Willingness to Explore
Separation Anxiety
Stranger Anxiety
Reunion Behaviour
How did Ainsworth observe the infants behaviour in each episode?
Through a two-way mirror
How many episodes were involved in the ‘strange situation’
7
How long did each episode last in Ainsworth’s strange situation?
3 minutes
What occurred in the first episode of the ‘strange situation’ ?
CG enters room with the INFANT, and the INFANT explores for 3 mins
What was the first episode of ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Willingness to explore
What occurred in the second episode of the ‘strange situation’ ?
A stranger enters and joins the CG and INFANT and tries to interact with the INFANT
What was the second episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Stranger anxiety
How was stranger anxiety measured in the ‘strange situation’ ?
Having a stranger enter the room
What occurred in the third episode of the ‘strange situation’
CG leaves the infant with the stranger
What was the third episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Stranger and separation anxiety
What occurred in the fourth episode of the ‘strange situation’
CG returns and the stranger leaves
How was reunion behaviour measured in the ‘strange situation’
By having the CG return
What occurred in the fifth episode of the ‘strange situation’
CG leaves the INFANT alone
What was the third episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Seperation anxiety
What occurred in the sixth episode of the ‘strange situation’
The stranger returns
What is the sixth episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Stranger anxiety
What occurred in the seventh episode of the ‘strange situation’ ?
Parent returns and stranger leaves
What was the seventh episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Reunion behaviour
“EP3 : The parent leaves the infant with the stranger”
What is this episode measuring?
Stranger and seperation anxiety
“EP1 : Parent enters the room with child, and the child explores”
What is this episode measuring?
Willingness to explore
What 3 types of attachment were identified in the ‘strange situation’ ?
Secure
Insecure avoidant
Insecure resistant
Describe a secure infants exploration behaviour
Willing to explore - but uses mother as secure base
Describe a secure infants reaction to separation
Upset / subdued when mother leaves
OR
High levels of seperation anxiety
Describe a secure infants reaction to a stranger when alone
Avoidant of stranger
OR
Shows high stranger anxiety
Describe a secure infants reaction to a stranger when with their caregiver
Friendly when caregiver present
Describe a secure infants reaction when reunited with their caregiver
Positive / happy with mother returns
What type of caregiver is associated with producing a securely attached infant?
Responsive
Describe an insecure-avoidant infants exploration behaviour
Willing to explore environment
Describe an insecure-avoidant infants reaction to seperation
Unconcerned by mothers absence
Describe an insecure-avoidant infants reaction to a stranger
Unconcerned, but often avoidant
Describe an insecure-avoidant infants reaction to reunion
Unresponsive / unconcerned
What type of caregiver is associated with producing an infant with an insecure-avoidant attachment type ?
Unresponsive
Describe an insecure-resistant infants exploration behaviour
Low willingness to explore
Describe an insecure-resistant infants reaction to seperation
Intensely distressed
OR
High seperation anxiety
Describe an insecure-resistant infants reaction to strangers
Extreme fear of strangers
OR
High stranger anxiety
Describe an insecure-resistant infants reaction to reunion
Clinginess mixed with rejection
What type of caregiver is associated with producing an infant with an insecure-resistant attachment type ?
Inconsistent
AO3: How could we criticise the method used by Ainsworth’s ‘strange situation’
Lacks ecological validity
What 2 elements of Ainsworth’s procedure is standardised?
The order of each episode
OR
The length of each episode (3 mins)
Which attachment type is unconcerned by a mothers absence?
Insecure-avoidant
Which attachment type is extremely fearful of strangers?
Insecure - resistant
Which attachment type would show positive behaviours when reunited with their mother
Secure
Which attachment type would display low willingness to explore their environment?
Insecure resistant
How do we criticise the strange situation TOOL?
Imposed epic
Why is the Strange Situation criticised for imposed etic?
Focus on American child rearing practices, ignoring other cultures
What do caregivers in Germany encourage/find desirable in their infants?
Independence
What attachment type are German infant most likely to show in the Strange situation?
Insecure avoidant
If the strange situation TOOL can be criticised for imposed etic, is it appropriate to use in other cultures when assessing attachment types?
May not be appropriate to use the SS as a way of assessing attachment types in other cultures
Who conducted RTS to support Ainsworths Strange situation?
Van Ijzendoorn
What did Van Ijzendoorn do?
Replicated the SS in the US
What did Van Ijzendoorn find?
consistent findings with Ainsworths strange situation observations
State the findings that Van Ijzendoorn found
SECURE - 65%
INSECURE AVOIDANT - 21%
INSECURE RESISTANT - 14%
Why does Ainsworths research lack ecological validity?
Takes place in a controlled environment (room with a two way mirror)
Why is it difficult for us to generalise Ainsworths findings to real life attachment types ?
The infant may not behave how they usually do in their natural environment as it is unfamiliar/new
What does research to SUPPORT always increase?
The validity of MP to BP
