Types of Attachment (5)

Mary Ainsworth (1970) procedure (1)

The strange situation was developed by Ainsworth and Bell

 

The aim was to be able to observe key attachment behaviours as a mean of assessing the quality of a baby’s attachment to a caregiver.

 

The strange situation is a controlled observation (designed to measure the security of attachment that a baby displays towards a caregiver.

 

It takes place in a room with quite controlled conditions, with a one-way mirror and cameras through which psychologists can observe the baby’s behaviour.

Mary Ainsworth (1970) procedure (2)

The procedure had seven episodes each of which lasted 3 minutes

 

1. Baby is encouraged to explore

2. Stranger comes in, talks to caregiver and approaches baby

3. Caregiver leaves baby and stranger to get=ether

4. Caregiver returns and stranger leaves

5. Caregiver leaves baby alone

6. Stranger returns

7. Caregiver returns and is reunited with baby

Mary Ainsworth (1970) behaviours measured in baby

1. Proximity seeking - a baby with good quality attachment will stay fairly close to caregiver

2. Secure base behaviour - good attachment enables a baby to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base

3. Stranger anxiety- one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

4. Separation anxiety - another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver

5. Reunion behaviour - babies who are securely attached greet the caregiver’s return with pleasure and seek comfort

Mary Ainsworth (1970) findings (1)

Ainsworth found that there were distinct patterns in the way that babies behaved, identifying three main types of attachment:

 

Insecure - avoidant attachment (Type A) =

 

1. These babies explore freely but do not seek proximity or show secure-base behaviour.

2. They should little of no reaction when their caregiver leaves and little stranger anxiety

3. They make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns and may even avoid such contact

 

About 20-25% of British babies are classified as insecure-avoidant.

Mary Ainsworth (1970) findings (2)

Secure attachment (Type B) =

 

1. These babies explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver (proximity-seeking and secure-base behaviour)

2. They usually show moderate separation anxiety and moderate stranger anxiety

3. Securely attached babies require and accept comfort from the caregiver in the reunion stage

 

About 60-65% of British babies are classified as secure.

Mary Ainsworth (1970) findings (3)

Insecure - resistant attachment (Type C) =

 

• These babies seek greater proximity than others and so explore less

• They show high levels of stranger and separation anxiety but they resist comfort when reunited with their caregivers.

 

Around 3% of British babies are classified as insecure - resistant

A03 - strange situation has good predictive validity

Madigan did a meta-analysis of strange situation studies and found that insecure attachment predicted aggression and mental health issues later in childhood

 

In contrast, Ward has reported positive mental health outcomes for infants assessed as securely attached in the strange situation

 

This shows that the strange situation measures something real and meaningful in a baby’s development

A03 - the strange situation may be culture bound

The strange situation test might not have the same meaning in countries outside Europe and the US where it was created.

 

Cultural differences mean babies respond differently (Japanese babies show anxiety in the strange situation because they are not used to being left by the caregiver, Takahashi)

 

This means it is difficult to know what the strange situation is ensuing in some non EU and US countries/cultures

A03 - Ainsworth didn’t consider other attachment types

Main and Solomon (1986) claimed that these is a fourth category of attachment - disorganised (type D) which is a mix of resistant and avoidant behaviours

 

However, type D babies are unusual and generally have experienced some form of severe neglect or abuse, associated with later psychological conditions.

 

This means that Ainsworth’s classification is adequate as a description of typical variations of attachment.