Attachment - Ainsworth's strange situation Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

what is the strange situation

A
  • controlled observation designed to test attachment security
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2
Q

what was the procedure

A
  • room with two-way mirror which psychologists can observe the baby’s behaviour
  • baby encouraged to explore
  • stranger comes in, talks to caregiver and approaches to the baby
  • caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together
  • caregiver returns and the stranger leaves
  • caregiver leaves the baby alone
  • stranger returns
  • caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby
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3
Q

what behaviour were used to judged attachment

A

Proximity seeking
- baby with a good quality attachment stays fairly close

Secure-base behaviour
- baby can explore and uses caregiver as a secure base

Stranger anxiety
- display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

Separation anxiety
- protests separation from caregiver

Response to reunion
- greet caregivers’ return with pleasure and seek comfort

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4
Q

what is secure attachment

A
  • explore happily but go back to caregiver
  • moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety
  • require and accept comfort in the reunion stage
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5
Q

what is insecure - avoidant attachment

A
  • explore freely but don’t seek proximity or show secure base behaviour
  • little or no reaction when the caregiver leaves and little stranger anxiety
  • little effort to respond when the caregiver returns
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6
Q

what is insecure - resistant attachment

A
  • seek greater proximity and explore less
  • high levels of stranger and separation anxiety
  • resist comfort when separated
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7
Q

what did Ainsworth find

A
  • 1978 found the three attachment types
  • secure 60-75%
  • insecure - avoidant 20-25%
  • insecure - resistant 3%
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8
Q

what are the strengths of Ainsworths’ study

A

Good predictive reliability
- babies and toddlers assessed as Type B tend to have better outcomes in childhood and adulthood
- better mental health
- insecure -resistant have worse outcomes

Good Reliability
Bick (2012)
- tested inter rater reliability
- agreed on attachment type in 94% of cases
- procedure takes place under highly controlled conditions and behaviours involve large movements

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9
Q

what are the limitations of Ainsworth’s study

A

Culture bound
- developed in Britain and USA
Takahasi (1986) Japanese
- babies displaying high levels of separation anxiety and classified as insecure resistant
- anxiety not due to attachment security but the unusual situation - mother and baby separation in Japan is rare

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