Attachment: Types of attachment- Ainsworth's strange situation Flashcards
What did Ainsworth set out to study?
She wanted to systematically test out the nature of attachment and the different attachments which could be formed.
Outline the meaning of proximity seeking
an infant who has good attachment will stay close to the caregiver.
Outline stranger anxiety
when the infant becomes distressed or anxious when approached or picked up by a stranger.
Outline separation anxiety
when the infant become anxious or distressed when they are separated from the caregiver.
Outline what is meant by reunion behaviour
The infant will be happy when they are reunited with their caregiver.
Outline the procedure for Ainsworth’s Strange Situation
Child is placed in 9x9ft square. 8 Episodes occur with a different situation.
S1- Parent and infant play
S2- parent sits whilst infant plays.
S3- Stranger enters and talks to parent
S4- Parent leaves, stranger stays to offer comfort if needed.
S5- Parent returns, stranger leaves
S6- Parent leaves room
S7- Stranger returns, offers comfort to the child
S8- Parent returns, greeting infant
What was the aims for making the stranger appear in Scenarios 3,4,7?
This was to help measure if the infant had started to get stranger anxiety
Why did the parent leave in scenarios 4 and 6?
This was to help measure the infant’s separation anxiety
How was reunion behaviour tested?
Scenario 8, where the parent returns after the infant has been with the stranger
Outline the findings from Ainsworth’s strange scenario study
3 main patterns of behaviour were found:
Insecure-avoidant/type A-20–25% all toddlers
secure attachment/type B-60-75% all toddlers
Insecure-resistant/type C- 3% all toddlers
Outline insecure-avoidant toddler behaviour
avoided social interaction and intimacy with others.
little response to separation.
high levels of anxiety.
Outline secure attachment toddler behaviour
Harmonious and cooperative with others.
Doesn’t cry when caregiver leaves the room
Uses caregiver as security when exploring.
Outline insecure-resistant attachment toddler behaviour.
Resists intimacy and social interaction.
when separated from caregiver, immediate intense stress.
Conflicting thoughts for/against contact.
Outline the evolutionary explanation of attachment
Suggests attachment has evolved to allow for a greater protection and survival.
Secure attachment is then the best form of attachment and should be what everyone should try to achieve.
Outline the findings from the evolutionary explanation of attachment
There are small inter-cultural differences.
Secure attachment is the ‘norm’, indicating that it is the ‘best’ for healthy social and emotional development. Supports the idea that attachment is an innate, biological process.
