types of attachment

Question 1

What is the aim and procedures of the strange situation?

Answer 1

-aim = observe key attachment and assess babys attachment to caregiver.
-procedure = controlled ob ; lab and 2 way mirror
(watched in 7 diff scenarios lasting 3 mins)

Question 2

whats is being assessed?

Answer 2

-promixity seeking
-exploration + secure base
-stranger anxiety
-seperation anxiety
-response to reunion

Question 3

what is proximxity seeking?

Answer 3

-infant stays close to caregiver

Question 4

what is exploration + secure base?

Answer 4

-good attachment allows child to feel comfortable to explore

Question 5

what is stranger anxiety?

Answer 5

-anxiety when stranger approaches

Question 6

what is seperation anxiety?

Answer 6

-protest at seperation from caregiver

Question 7

what is response to reunion?

Answer 7

-child reacts upon being re united with caregiver

Question 8

what percentage are infants of each type of attachment in the UK?

Answer 8

-TYPE B = secure 60-75%
-TYPE A = insecure avoidant 20-25%
-TYPE C = insecure resistant 3%

Question 9

What are the characteristics of secure attachment?

Answer 9

-explore happily
-regularly go back to caregiver (secure base)
-moderate separation/stranger anxiety
-accept comfort in reunion stage
type B

Question 10

what are the characteristics insecure avoidant?

Answer 10

-little effort to make contact in reunion
-explore freely
-dont seek proxmixity or secure base
-little/no reaction when caregiver leaves
-little stranger anxiety
-type a

Question 11

what are the characteristics of insecure resistant?

Answer 11

-type c
-seek greater promixity
-explore less
-high lvl stranger/seperation anxiety
-resist comfort when re untied

Question 12

strengths of strange situation

Answer 12

(Validity)
-predicts number of aspects of babys later development
-type B tend to have better outcomese e.g do better in school
-secure attachment tend to have better MH in adulthood
-insecure resistant and those not in type A,B OR C may have worse outcomes
- strange situation therefore has meaningful measurements of babys development

(good reliability)
-good inter rater reliability
-BICK ET AL= observers agreed in attachment type in 94% of cases
-controlled conditions
-promixity seeking and stranger anxiety are large observable movements and crying and crawl
-SS doesnt rely on subjective judgements so can be repeated

(other attachment types identified)
-identified a type D
-type D a mix of resistant and avoidant
-type D unusual with severe neglect and abuse
-psychological disorders in adulthood

Question 13

limitations of the strange situtaion

Answer 13

(counterpoint validity)
-some psychologists dont believe it measures attachment
-they believe it measures something to do w attachment but not exactly that
-kaganc suggests anxiety lvls may account for variety in attachment in the SS
- may not accurately measure attachment

(culture bound)
-valid only some cultures
-diff culture = diff experiences
-Takahashi studied babies displayed high lvls of seperation anxiety so disproportional number seen as insecure resistant
-but high anxiety due to the Japanese culture (mother and baby seperation is rare)
-hard to know what its measuring out of europe and US