Measuring Attachment: Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Types Of Attachment: Secure, Insecure-avoidant, Insecure-resistant Flashcards
What is a strange situation?
A controlled observation designed to test attachment security. Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited with a caregiver.
What is secure attachment?
It is considered the most desirable attachment type, associated with psychologically healthy outcomes. In the strange situation it is shown by moderate stranger and separation anxiety and ease of comfort on reunion.
What is insecure-avoidant attachment?
An attachment type characterised by low anxiety but weak attachment. In the strange situation this is shown by low stranger and separation anxiety and little response on reunion with the caregiver.
What is insecure-resistant attachment?
An attachment type characterised by strong attachment and high anxiety. In the strange situation, this is characterised by high levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by resistance to be comforted on reunion.
How might exploration and secure base behaviour demonstrate a good or secure attachment?
It’s shows that the infant is confident enough to explore as they know the carer will always be there as a secure/safe base.
Who devised the ‘strange situation’ technique?
Mary Ainsworth.
The strange situation procedure has been replicated many times and has become a standard method for measuring type and quality of attachment.
What was the aim of Ainsworth’s ‘the strange situation’ study?
To investigate the reactions of young children to periods of brief separation from their mothers; to determine the nature of attachment behaviours and different types of attachment.
Describe the method of Ainsworth’s ‘strange situation’ study
Ainsworth developed a controlled observational procedure in order to observe the variety of attachments forms exhibited between mothers and infants. The experiment is set up in a small room with a two way mirror so the behaviour of the infant can be observed.
American infants between 12-18 months old and their mothers took part in this controlled observation. The experimental room and the toys scattered around it is a novel environment to the infants. There were several stages; the infant-mother pair is observed during seven three minute episodes which are increasingly stressful for the infant.
The sequence of events is observed by a researcher through a two-way mirror and detailed notes are taken and the researcher rated the intensity of the behaviour on a scale of 1-7 (7 being the most intense). The intensity of behaviours such as ‘proximity seeking’ and ‘stranger anxiety’ was rated every 15 seconds during each episode.
How old were in the infants taking part in the study?
12- 18 months old
how may episodes were they observed in, and how long did they last?
Seven three minute long episodes which were increasingly stressful for the infant.
Was it an overt observation or a covert observation?
Covert observation as the researcher was watching the infant’s behaviour through a two-way mirror without their knowledge
Was it a structured or an unstructured observation?
It was unstructured as she wrote down everything that she saw
The intensity of behaviours such as ‘proximity seeking’ and ‘stranger anxiety’ was rated at what time intervals?
Every 15 seconds during each episode
What were the sequence of stages and what was the research testing?
1.) mother and baby enter the room, the child is encouraged to explore
(Proximity seeking + exploration + secure base behaviour)
- A stranger enters, talks to the mother and gradually approaches the infant with a toy
(Stranger anxiety) - Mother leaves the room
(Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety) - Mother returns and stranger leaves
(Secure base behaviour + response on return) - Mother leaves child on its own
(separation anxiety) - Stranger returns and approaches infant with a toy
(Stranger anxiety) - Mother returns and stranger leaves
(Response on reunion)
What were the results of Ainsworth’s ‘the strange situation’ study?
The study found similarities and differences in the way infants behaved. There are three main types of attachment and these are associated with different attachment behaviours. Ainsworth concluded that the key determinant of attachment type is the mother’s sensitivity and responsiveness to the child.
Secure Attachment (Type B)
•about 65% of American infants showed this pattern of behaviour. 60-75% when replicated with British toddlers.
•infants who are securely attached to their caregiver show a high willingness to explore their novel environment, using the mother as a secure base.
•they show moderate levels of stranger anxiety - they were wary of the stranger and preferred the mother
•when the mother leaves they show separation anxiety, characterised by moderate levels of stress
•when the mother returns they show joy when reunited and are happy to see her.
Insecure-avoidant (Type A)
•about 20% of American infants showed this pattern of behaviour. 20-25%
•infants who demonstrate avoidant attachment show a high willingness to explore their environment, but they seem to ignore the mother when she is in the room.
•they show low levels of stranger anxiety; they would approach and play with the stranger and did not seem too prefer the mother
•when the mother leaves they show low separation anxiety (distress) - they are described as indifferent and do not seem to be affected when the mother leaves
•when the mother returns they show little joy and do not seek comfort from her
Insecure-resistant attachment (Type C)
•about 15% of American infants showed this pattern of behaviour. 3% when replicated with British toddlers
•infants who demonstrate a resistant attachment show a low willingness to explore their environment, they stay close to the mother and seem very distressed in their new surroundings and were ‘clingy’
•they show high levels of stranger anxiety, they feared the stranger and became more distressed when they were approached by them
•when the mother leaves they showed extreme separation anxiety (high level of distress)
