Types of Attachment

What is a secure attachment?

• a strong bond between child and caregiver

• the child is distressed when separated but easily comforted upon reunion

What is insecure avoidant attachment?

• the child doesn't become particularly distressed when separated and can be comforted by a stranger

• they avoid social interaction and intimacy.

What is insecure resistant attachment?

• the child is uneasy around the caregiver, becomes very upset if separated, and resists comfort from the caregiver.

• they both accept and reject intimacy.

Who developed the 'Strange Situation' and when?

• Ainsworth et al

• 1978

What was the method used in the 'Strange Situation'?

• 12-18 month old infants were observed in controlled scenarios involving separation and reunion with the mother, and interaction with a stranger.

What were the attachment types found in Ainsworth's study?

• 15% were insecure-avoidant (Type A)

• 70% secure (Type B)

• 15% insecure-resistant (Type C)

What are some evaluations of the Strange Situation?

• lacks ecological validity

• lab setting might not reflect real-life behaviour

• cultural factors may influence attachment

What did Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) study?

• they conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies of the Strange Situation across 8 different countries

What were their key findings?

• Secure attachment was most common across all cultures.

• Germany had more avoidant

• Japan had more resistant attachments

What was the conclusion from their cross-cultural study?

• there are cross-cultural similarities in attachment types, but also differences likely due to child-rearing practices

Why might cross-cultural comparisons be problematic?

• attachment behaviours vary by culture, so the Strange Situation may not measure the same thing in different settings

What influences the causes of different attachment types?

The sensitivity of the carers and their behavior toward the infant

What are four key points from the findings of Strange Situation research?

• Cultural differences affect attachment

• Attachment types are due to caregiver sensitivity

• Strange situation measures attachment with one person only

• Attachment type may affect later behaviour in school and adulthood