strange situation

name the 3 types of attachment

secure

insecure-avoidant

insecure-resistant

name 3 characteristics of secure attachment

1. moderate stranger anxiety

2. moderate separation anxiety

3. joy on reuinion

name 3 characteristics of insecure-avoidant attachment

1. low stranger anxiety

2. low separation anxiety

3. little response on reunion

name 3 characteristics of insecure-resistant attachment

1. high anxiety

2. strong attachment

3. high stranger anxiety

4. high separation anxiety

5. seeking closeness and wanting distance when they get it (seeking and resisting)

why do secure attachments form?

caregiver responds sensitively to infant’s needs

why do insecure-avoidant attachments form?

caregiver doesn’t respond sensitively to needs

why do insecure-resistant attachments form?

caregiver’s inconsistency to responding to infant’s needs

what type of attachment is secure?

type b w

what type of attachments are insecure-avoidant?

type awh

what type of attachments are insecure-resistant?

type c

who did the strange situation and came up with these attachment types?

ainsworth

aim?

investigate differences in types of attachments and see how infants respond in new and mildly stressful situations

procedure?

lab playroom

observed through one way mirror

eight episodes (situations) which lasted 3 minutes each

observers record infant and mother behaviour

what behaviours were they looking for in the strange situation?

1. exploration and secure base

2. separation anxiety

3. stranger anxiety

4. reunion behaviour

what were the 8 situations?

1. caregiver is with infant

2. infant is encouraged to explore

3. stranger comes in and tries to interact

4. caregiver leaves infant and stranger

5. caregiver returns

6. child is left alone

7. stranger returns

8. caregiver returns

where was the strange situation experiment done?

americaw

what age were the infants?

12-18 months

secure attachment findings?

explore- explore happily but go back to caregiver regularly

separation anxiety- moderate distress

stranger anxiety- moderate distress- treat them differently

reunion behaviour- joy on reunion

what % of babies are securely attached?

70%

insecure-avoidant attachment findings?

explore- explore freely, do not seek proximity with are giver, unaffected by presence of absence of them

separation anxiety- little distress

stranger anxiety- respond to mother and stranger similarly

reunion behaviour- avoids contact on reunion

what percent of babies are insecure-avoidant?

20%

insecure-resistant attachment findings?

explore- no secure base, not willing to explore

separation anxiety- very distressed

stranger anxiety- resists stranger

reunion behaviour- seeks and resists contact

what is seeking and resisting?

wanting contact then not

e.g. put arms up to be held then immediately struggle to get down

ainsworth conclusions?

individual differences between infants may be due to responsiveness of caregiver

innate tendency for attachment is affected by life experiences

name 2 strengths of the strange situation experiment

1. predicts later development- practical

2. good inter-rater reliability

how does this predict future development?

securely attachment- better outcomes, success at school, romantic relationships and friendships

insecure-resistant attachment- worst outcome, bullying in childhood and adult mental health problems

predictive validity

how does it have good inter-rater validity?

different observers watched the same infants and generally agreed what to classify as

takes place under controlled conditions and categories are easy to observe

bick- found a 94% agreement on attachment type with observers when looking at inter-rater reliability

(doesn’t just depend on observers)

what percent agreement on attachment types did bick find?

94%

name 2 limitations of the study

1. cultural differences

2. may be more types of attachment

why are cultural differences a limitation?

if it’s done and created in america it will reflect american norms

difference in childrearing across the world

e.g. germany, independence is encouraged. japan, mothers rarely leave babies alone

strange situation didn’t work in japan because baby was so distressed the mother rushed into the room and scooped them up during separation anxiety

(more info on cultural difference flashcard set)

why is there being more types of attachment a limitation?

overlooked other type of attachment- type D- insecure-disorganised

200 strange situation video tapes analysed to propose this

type D showed inconsistent characteristics, e.g. very strong attachment to caregiver then suddenly followed by avoidance or looking fearful towards them

what % of babies are classified as insecure-disorganised?

15%

what is the overlooked attachment type called?

type D / insecure-disorganised

how many videotapes watched to find insecure-disorganised attachment?

200