Ainsworth Flashcards
(34 cards)
Aim
Observe key attachment behaviour as a means for of assessing the quality of a child’s attachment type
Procedure
A controlled observations procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver.
It takes place in a room quite controlled conditions with a 2 way mirror that the psychologists could observe them through
How many episodes
8
Ep1
Parent and infant play
Ep2
Parent sits while infant plays
Parent is a secure base
Ep3
Stranger enters and talks to parent
Stranger anxiety
Ep4
Parent leaves, infant plays, stranger offers confort is needed
Seperation anxiety
Ep5
Parent returns, greets infant, offers confort if needed; stranger leaves
Reunion behaviour
Ep6
Parent leaves infant alone
Seperation anxiety
Ep7
Stranger enters and offers comfort
Stranger anxiety
Ep8
Parent returns, greets infant and offers confort
Reunion behaviour
Sample
All white middle class babies and mothers
Proximity seeking
An infant with good attachment
Stays fairly close to caregiver
Exploration and secure base behaviour
Good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore, using care giver as a secure base
Stranger anxiety
Sign of becoming closely attached
A display of anxiety when a stranger approaches
Seperation anxiety
Another sign of becoming attached
Protest at Seperation from the caregiver
Length of eps
3mins
Gap between the moments that observers would record
15s
Behavioural categories
1 proximity and contact seeking behaviours
2 contact maintaining behaviours
3 proximity and interaction and avoiding behaviours
4 contact and interaction resisting behaviour
5 search behaviours
% of secure
66
% of insecure avoidant
22
% of insecure resistant
12
Secure attachment baby exploration
Mum used as secure base
Secure baby when mum leaves
Moderate distress
