Attachment - Types of attachment

Question 1

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation

Answer 1

Testing attachment security by assessing responses to:
- Being left alone
- Being left with a stranger
- Being reunited with caregiver

Question 2

Types of attachment (3)

Answer 2

Secure, insecure-resistant, insecure avoidant

Question 3

Secure attachment (B)

Answer 3

70% of public, proximity seekers w/secure based behaviour, moderate separation & stranger anxiety, accept comfort from caregiver on reunion

Question 4

Insecure-avoidant attachment (A)

Answer 4

15% of public, do not seek proximity & do not show secure based behaviour, low separation & stranger anxiety, do not require comfort from caregiver on reunion

Question 5

Insecure-resistant attachment (C)

Answer 5

15% of public, seek greater proximity to caregiver, high separation & stranger anxiety, resistant to comfort from caregiver on reunion

Question 6

4th type (proposed by Main & Solomon)

Answer 6

Insecure-disorganised attachment (D) - 5-10% of public, mixture of resistant & avoidant behaviour

Question 7

Strengths of types of attachment (SS)

Answer 7

Predictive validity (predicts later development - secures succeed in school & have good relationships in adulthood where insecure-resistants are bullies & have mental health issues -> validity strengthens methods of assessing attachment)
Inter-rater reliability (different observers also agree on classifications -> categories are easy to observe -> reliable method of identification)

Question 8

Limitations of types of attachment (SS)

Answer 8

Culturally limited (differing results outside W.Europe & USA -> Takahashi - higher levels of insecure-resistant in Japan -> limited explanation)
Another type (Main & Solomon suggests insecure-disorganised -> Ainsworth agreed with -> questions accuracy if she failed to include a type)