Types Of Attachment (Strange Situation)

Question 1

Strange situation

Answer 1

Measuring attachment quality

• 7 stage controlled observation
• Assesses proximity seeking, exploration and secure base, stranger and separation, response to reunion

Question 2

Secure attachment

Answer 2

Generally thought of as the most desirable attachment types associated with psychologically healthy outcomes. In the strange situation this is shown by moderate stranger and separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion

Question 3

Insecure avoidant attachment

Answer 3

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 to reunion maybe even an avoidance of the caregiver

Question 4

Insecure resistant attachment

Answer 4

An attachment type characterised by straw attachment and high anxiety. In the strange situation this is shown by high levels of stranger separation anxiety and by resistance to being fitted at Reunion.

Question 5

What are the three attachment types

Answer 5

• Secure attachment
• Insecure avoidant attachment
• Insecure resistant attachment

Question 6

Ainsworth’s strange situation- PROCEDURE

Answer 6

1. The baby is encouraged to explore
2. A stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby
3. The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together
4. The caregiver returns and stranger leaves
5. The caregiver leaves the baby alone
6. The stranger returns
7. The caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby

Question 7

How many episodes and How long did each last?

Answer 7

7 episodes
3 minutes

Question 8

Ainsworth’s strange situation- RESULTS

Answer 8

• Secure attachment (B)- High reunion behaviour. However, Moderate proximity seeking behaviour, secure based behaviour, stranger and serration anxiety
• Insecure-avoidant attachment (A)- High secure base behaviour. However had LOW proximity seeking behaviour, reunion behaviour, stranger and serration anxiety
• Insecure-resistant attachment (C)- Low secure base behaviour. However, HIGH proximity seeking behaviour, reunion behaviour, stranger and serration anxiety

Question 9

What behaviours were judged?

Answer 9

• Proximity Seeking
• Secure Base Behaviour
• Stranger Anxiety
• Separation Anxiety
• Reunion Behaviour

Question 10

Proximity Seeking

Answer 10

a baby with a good quality attachment will stay fairly close to a caregiver

Question 11

Exploration and Secure Base Behaviour

Answer 11

Good attachment enables a baby to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base

Question 12

Stranger Anxiety

Answer 12

One of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

Question 13

Separation Anxiety

Answer 13

Another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver

Question 14

Reunion Behaviour

Answer 14

Babies who are securely attached greet the caregivers return with pleasure and seek comfort

Question 15

Strange situation evaluation points- High validity

Answer 15

STRENGTH

Babies assessed as secure went onto have higher quality attachments later on as
well as better outcomes in school.

Question 16

Strange situation evaluation points- High reliability

Answer 16

STRENGTH

High inter-rater reliability – multiple observers who used behavioural categories.
Bick found 94% IRR.

Question 17

Strange situation evaluation points- Culture bound

Answer 17

LIMITATION

Japanese mothers rarely apart from babies so high levels of
separation anxiety identified.

Question 18

Strange situation evaluation points- Disorganised attachment

Answer 18

LIMITATION

4th type - mix of Insecure-Avoidant and Insecure-Resistant.