attachment- types of attachment Flashcards
who did the ‘strange situation’?
Ainsworth and Bell (1970)
procedure of the ‘strange situation’
-controlled observation procedure in a lab w a two way mirror for psychologists to observe a baby’s behaviour
categories used to judge in strange situation
-PROXIMITY-SEEKING - well-attached babies stay close to caregiver.
-EXPLORATION AND SECURE-BASE BEHAVIOUR- good attachment makes confident to explore, baby confident to explore, using the caregiver as point of safety.
-STRANGER ANXIETY - displayed by well-attached babies.
-SEPARATION ANXIETY - displayed by well-attached babies.
-RESPONSE TO REUNION WITH CAREGIVER after separation for a short period of time - well-attached babies are enthusiastic.
seven episodes of ‘strange situation’
-each last three minutes
1. Baby is encouraged to explore by caregiver.
2. Stranger enters and talks to caregiver, approaches baby.
3. Caregiver leaves.
4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves.
5. Caregiver leaves baby alone.
6. Stranger returns.
7. Caregiver returns.
findings of ‘strange situation’
-found distinct patterns in the way babies behaved.
-identified three main types of attachment.
-secure
-insecure-avoidant
-insecure-resistant
secure attachment
type B: 60-75% of British toddlers
-baby happy to explore but seeks proximity to caregiver (secure base).
-shows moderate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety.
-requires and accepts comfort from caregiver on reunion.
insecure-avoidant attachment
type A: 20-25% of British toddlers
-baby explores freely but does not seek proximity (no secure base).
-shows little/no separation and stranger anxiety.
-avoids contact at the reunion stage.
insecure-resistant attachment
type C: 3% of British toddlers
-baby explores less and seeks greater proximity.
-shows considerable stranger and separation anxiety.
-resists comfort when reunited with caregiver.
ao3 strange situation: has good predictive validity
-attachment type predicts later development i.e. secure babes typically have greater success at school (McCormick et al. 2016)
-in contrast insecure-resistant attachment associated w worst outcomes e.g. bullying (Kokkinos 2007) and adult mental health problems (Ward et al 2006)
-evidence for the validity of the concept as it can explain future outcomes
ao3 strange situation: CA- may not actually measure attachment
-although the Strange Situation measures something that predicts later development, it may be measuring genetic differences in anxiety
(Kagan 1982).
-means the Strange Situation may not actually measure attachment.
ao3 strange situation: good inter-rate reliability
-different observers watching same babies generally agree on attachment type. Bick et al. (2012) found 94% agreement in one team
-may be bc strange situation takes place under controlled conditions and the behavioural categories are easy to observe
-means we can be confident in the type of attachment identified of a baby in the strange situation as doesn’t just depend on who’s observing them.
ao3 strange situation: may be culture bound
-might not have same meaning in countries outside Europe and US where it was created
-cultural differences mean they respond differently, e.g. Japan babies show anxiety as not used to being left by caregiver (Takahashi 1986)
-means difficult to know what the strange situation is measuring in some countries
