Types of attachment

Question 1

Outline Ainsworth’ ‘strange situation’ study.

Answer 1

Procedure: 7 stage-controlled observation using a 2-way mirror 
Findings:	
- Type A: Insecure – avoidant (15%)
Exploration from secure base: Explored freely
Stranger anxiety: Low
Separation anxiety: Low
Reunion behaviour: Avoid comfort
-Type B: Secure (70%)
Exploration from secure base: Explored happily
Stranger anxiety: Moderate
Separation anxiety: Moderate
Reunion behaviour: Easily comforted
-Type C: Insecure-resistant (15%)
Exploration from secure base: Explore less
Stranger anxiety: High
Separation anxiety: High
Reunion behaviour: Resist comfort

Question 2

Evaluate.

Answer 2

+ Good predictive validity – lots of research shows attachment type affected later social behaviour e.g. secure children less likely to be a bully and more likely to have positive friendships etc. Insecure resistant tend to have the worst outcomes in the future e.g. are more likely to be a bully.

• Counterpoint: Behavioural differences in later social behaviour could be due to other factors such as genetically- influenced anxiety levels.

+ Good inter-observer reliability -research by other researchers showed observers agreement was 94%

• Counterpoint: The research is ethnocentric because the Strange Situation was developed in USA and then UK. Other cultures have different experiences e.g. research of Japanese children showed high anxiety was not due to attachment insecurity but down to the fact that infants are rarely separated from their mothers.
• Main and Solomon suggested a fourth category – type D to describe children who show a mix of A and C. Called disorganised attachment

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of this research?

Answer 3

• Counterpoint: Behavioural differences in later social behaviour could be due to other factors such as genetically- influenced anxiety levels.
• Main and Solomon suggested a fourth category – type D to describe children who show a mix of A and C. Called disorganised attachment
• Counterpoint: The research is ethnocentric because the Strange Situation was developed in USA and then UK. Other cultures have different experiences e.g. research of Japanese children showed high anxiety was not due to attachment insecurity but down to the fact that?