Lesson 3: Types of Attachment

Question 1

Who conducted the strange situation?

Answer 1

Ainsworth et al (1970)

Question 2

What is the strange situation?

Answer 2

Methodology used to investigate differences in attachments. Controlled observation. Took place in room full of toys

Question 3

What was the process of the strange situation?

Answer 3

• The investigators observed the infants in a series of 3 minute episodes:
  
  • Mother and baby
  • Stranger enters
  • Mother leaves
  • Mother returns etc

Question 4

What did they record in the strange situation?

Answer 4

They recorded an infant’s proximity seeking, stranger anxiety, separation protest and reunion joy

Question 5

Describe Type A (Insecure avoidant infants)

Answer 5

20% of attachments. Largely ignore caregiver, play independently, no separation protest or reunion joy, distressed when completely alone but accepts stranger. Caregiver and stranger are treated in the same way

Question 6

Describe Type B (Secure infants)

Answer 6

70% of attachments. Play happily with caregiver, using them as safe base while exploring room. Separation protest (even with stranger), reunion joy, stranger anxiety but accepts comfort without caregiver

Question 7

Describe Type C (Insecure Resistant infants)

Answer 7

10% of attachments. Fussy and cry lots more. Not explore the room or play, clingy. Extreme separation protest, no reunion joy (resist comfort from caregiver), extreme stranger anxiety.

Question 8

Positives of the strange situation

Answer 8

1. Replicated many times over the years due to high control and standardised procedures. Successfully carried out in different cultures

Question 9

Negatives of the strange situation

Answer 9

1. Cultural Bias, done in USA, but secure may differ globally (e.g Germany with avoiding children)
2. Gender Bias, only includes mother, not measuring childs overall attachment style. Children behave differently with different parents
3. Lacks ecological validity, stronger behaviours in labs.