Strange Situation + Types of attachment

Question 1

Define secure attachment.

Answer 1

Strong emotional bond experienced by an infant towards their caregiver where they tend to have harmonious and cooperative interactions. Desiree to remain physically close when distressed, use them as a secure base to explore, some distress when separated, easily soothed when reunited, wary of strangers.

Question 2

Define insecure-avoidant attachment.

Answer 2

Weaker emotional bond. Avoidance of interaction and intimacy w caregiver and others, happy to explore surroundings w or w/o caregiver, little or no signs of distress when caregiver leaves, no pleasure on return, unresponsive to strangers. Caused by ignoring the infant so they expect little ad become independent and self reliant.

Question 3

Define insecure-resistant attachment.

Answer 3

Seeking and resisting interaction and intimacy, extreme and immediate distress when carer leaves them alone and when with strangers. Conflict of desire on return and anger towards being comforted. Due to inconsistency of caregiver.

Question 4

Describe the procedure and findings of Ainsworths strange situation.

Answer 4

100 middle class American mothers and babies in a controlled observation. Infant observed with its mother in a specifically arranged room with play materials and prearranged activities. Infants responses noted - response to stranger; separation anxiety; reunion. 
66% secure: wary of stranger, distress when separated, happy on reunion
22% insecure avoidant: unresponsive to stranger, no distress when separated, unresponsive on reunion
12% insecure resistant: extreme distress when separated, angry and conflicting on reunion, very wary of stranger

Question 5

Describe the aim and conclusion of the strange situation (ainsworth’s)

Answer 5

Aim: investigation into different types of attachment by putting babies under conditions of mild stress in unfamiliar settings

Conclusion: individual differences. The majority of American children securely attached. Mothers behaviour important in attachment formed.

Question 6

Give a strength of ainsworth’s strange situation.

Answer 6

High inter observer reliability. Can easily be assessed. Ainsworth round High levels of agreement.

Question 7

Give a criticism of ainsworth’s strange situation.

Answer 7

Later studies of attachment suggest that another type of attachment had been overlooked - insecure disorganised, where infants show no pattern of attachment behaviour.

Question 8

Give a practical application of Ainsworth’s strange situation.

Answer 8

In situations where insecure attachments start to develop interventions can be put in place. Eg circle of security project teaches parents how to better understand their child’s needs.

Question 9

Give a strength of the strange situation as a research tool.

Answer 9

It is a tool that measures attachment in several research studies not just her own. It has been used many times and is still used today so we can get a better understanding of this important developmental stage.

Question 10

Give a criticism of the strange situation as a research tool.

Answer 10

Controlled observation - could influence the mothers behaviour. Mothers were aware they were being observed and interactions were being judged. Could have changed their interaction eg acting more attentive to appear as a ‘good mother, so child’s behaviour affected.

Question 11

Describe the aim and procedure of Van Ijzendoorns research.

Answer 11

To investigate differences in attachment between and within countries and cultures

Meta - analysis of 32 studies of attachment in 8 countries - findings from 2000 strange situations were analysed.

Question 12

Explain the findings of Van Ijzendoorns research.

Answer 12

Differences between countries small. Secure most common in every country. Insecure avoidant next most common except in Japan and Israel.
GB: 75,22,3
WG: 57,35,8
J: 68,5,27
O: 65,21,14
West Germany = highest insecure avoidant; japan highest insecure resistant; GB highest secure

Question 13

What were the conclusions from Van Ijzendoorns research?

Answer 13

Secure is the norm, best for healthy development, support the idea that attachment is innate

Question 14

Describe other research into cultural variations in attachment

Answer 14

60 Japanese mothers and babies - strange situation. Secure = 68%, IA = none, 32% IR

Germany; majority secure 57%, IA 35% (higher than USA)

Question 15

Give a strength of research into cultural attachment.

Answer 15

Meta analysis using 2000 infants and caregivers analysed - large sample size (reduces impact of anomalous results and increases accuracy)

Question 16

Give 2 criticisms of research into cultural variations in attachment.

Answer 16

Criticised accuracy - claims to be investigating cultural variations whereas it is really comparing percentage of attachment types, and side any country is made up of several cultural it is hard to draw conclusions

Mothers aware they’re being observed and interactions judged by experts. Affect the way interactions occur.

Question 17

Give one issue of research into cultural variations in attachment.

Answer 17

ethnocentric. Doesn’t differentiate between types of upbringing and assume western upbringing is the norm. Japanese infants rarely leave their mothers so appear to be IR attached because of separation anxiety. German children bought up to be self reliant and independent so appear to have IA attachment because they don’t show much concern. weakness bc strongly influenced by upbringing - only valid for western cultures.