Types Of Attachment

Question 1

Types of attachment

Answer 1

• secure
• insecure avoidant
• insecure resistant

Question 2

The four behaviour being tested

Answer 2

• exploration
• stranger anxiety
• separation anxiety
• reunion behaviours

Question 3

Weakness of Ainsworth experiment - low ecological validity (w/ counterpoint)

Answer 3

• controlled artificial setting
• may act different at home
• don’t know if the behaviour will be the same in natural environment
• less externally valid
• however it is highly reliable

Question 4

Methodological weakness - overt experiment

Answer 4

• parent knew they were being watched, may have displayed demand characteristics e.g being overly affectionate
• could of altered child’s behaviour
• lowers the internal validity of experiment

Question 5

Criticism - system of attachment types may be incomplete

Answer 5

• main and Solomon (1986) analysed several strange situation tapes and suggest there is a fourth type that was overlooked
• some infants showed insecure-disorganised
• limitation because follow up research identified an additional type of attachment

Question 6

Criticism - ethical issues (w/counterpoint)

Answer 6

• child is put under stress and anxiety which breaks the guideline of protection from harm
• however the separation episodes were stopped if the child because to stressed
  Also it is simulating everyday experiences e.g babysitting