Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’. Types of attachment: secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant

Question 1

What are attachment types?

Answer 1

Attachment type refers too the quality of the attachment between the infant and caregiver.

Question 2

How can each attachment type be identified?

Answer 2

Each attachment type can be identified by observing specific patterns of behaviour in the infant.

Question 3

What did Mary Ainsworth produce?

Answer 3

Mary Ainsworth produced a method called the ‘strange situation’ to measure the type of attachment in infants with their caregivers.

Question 4

What are the behaviours used to judge attachment?

Answer 4

Proximity seeking, Exploration and secure base, Stranger anxiety, Separation anxiety, Response to reunion.

Question 5

What is proximity seeking?

Answer 5

When a baby with a good quality attachment will stay fairly close to a caregiver.

Question 6

What is exploration and secure-base behaviour?

Answer 6

Good attachment enables a baby to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base, i.e. a point of contact that will make them feel safe.

Question 7

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 7

One of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches.

Question 8

What is response to a reunion?

Answer 8

Babies who are secrely attached greet the caregivers return with pleasure and seek comfort.

Question 9

What was the aim of Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 9

To asses the quality attachment between infants and their caregivers by observing the child’s reaction to separation and reunion in a controlled setting.

Question 10

What did Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 10

Conducted by Mary Ainsworth et al. (1975) in a controlled lab setting using a standardised observation called the strange situation.

Question 11

What was the sample and how would they record behaviour in Mary Ainsworth’s observation?

Answer 11

It involved 106 middle class American infants who were 12-18 months and their caregivers. They would use time interval sampling (recording what the infant is doing every 15 seconds.)

Question 12

What task did each child go through in Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 12

Each child went through eight episodes each lasting around 3 minutes in a room with toys.

Question 13

What were the five behaviours used to judge attachment include?

Answer 13

1. Proximity
2. Exploration an secure
3. Stranger anxiety
4. Separation anxiety
5. Response to reunion

Question 14

What is meant by proximity seeking?

Answer 14

A baby with good quality attachment will stay fairly close to a caregiver

Question 15

What is meant by exploration and secure base?

Answer 15

Good attachment enables a baby to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base.

Question 16

What is meant by stranger anxiety?

Answer 16

One of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

Question 17

What is separation anxiety?

Answer 17

One of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

Question 18

What is response to reunion?

Answer 18

Babies who are securely attached greet the caregiver’s return with pleasure and seek comfort.

Question 19

What is the first episode?

Answer 19

Baby and mother entering an unfamiliar play space.

Question 20

What is the second episode?

Answer 20

The baby is encouraged to explore, it tests exploration and the use of a secure base

Question 21

What is the third episode?

Answer 21

A stranger enters, talks to the caregiver, then approaches the baby, it tests stranger anxiety.

Question 22

What is the fourth episode?

Answer 22

The caregiver leaves the baby with the stranger . It tests separation and stranger anxiety,

Question 23

What is the fifth episode?

Answer 23

Caregiver returns, stranger leaves, it tests reunion and secure base.

Question 24

What is the sixth episode?

Answer 24

The caregiver leaves the baby alone, it test stranger anxiety

Question 25

What is the seventh episode?

Answer 25

The stranger returns. Tests stranger anxiety

Question 26

What is the eighth episode?

Answer 26

The caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby.

Question 27

What are Ainsworth's 3 main types of attachment?

Answer 27

Secure (Type B) Insecure-Avoidant (Type A) Insecure-Resistant (Type C)

Question 28

What is meant Secure (Type B)

Answer 28

Most babies (around 66%) explored happily, and showed moderate distress when separated and they were easily comforted

Question 29

What is meant by Insecure avoidant (Type a)

Answer 29

Around 22%, avoided contact, showed little distress and ignored caregiver on return.

Question 30

What is meant by insecure resistant (Type C)

Answer 30

Around 12% were very distressed by separation, resisted comfort, and were clingy but angry on reunion.

Question 31

Willingness to explore of a baby with each attachment type: 1. Type B - Secure 2. Type A- Insecure Avoidant 3. Type C - Insecure resistant

Answer 31

1. High, explores happily uses caregiver as base 2. High, doesn't use caregiver 3. Low, Limited exploration, clingy

Question 32

Stranger anxiety of a baby with each attachment type: 1. Type B - Secure 2. Type A- Insecure Avoidant 3. Type C - Insecure resistant

Answer 32

1. Moderate anxiety 2. Low - little to no anxiety 3. High anxiety

Question 33

Separation anxiety of a baby with each attachment type: 1. Type B - Secure 2. Type A- Insecure Avoidant 3. Type C - Insecure resistant

Answer 33

1. Moderate, distressed but easy to sooth 2. Low - little to no anxiety 3. High anxiety

Question 34

Behaviour at reunion with caregiver of a baby with each attachment type: 1. Type B - Secure 2. Type A- Insecure Avoidant 3. Type C - Insecure resistant

Answer 34

1. High, enthusiastic 2. Low, ignores caregiver 3. High resistant,, seeks and rejects

Question 35

Type B - Secure: - Caregiver behaviour - Childs internal working model - Outcome for later development

Answer 35

Caregiver behaviour - Sensitive and responsive Child's internal working model sees self as positive and loved Outcome- Healthly emotional and social development

Question 36

Type A insecure avoidant: - Caregiver behaviour - Childs internal working model - Outcome for later development

Answer 36

Caregiver behaviour - Emotionally unavailable or rejecting Child's internal working model: sees self as unloved and rejected Outcome: Struggles with trust band emotional closeness later on

Question 37

Type C - Insecure resistant: - Caregiver behaviour - Childs internal working model - Outcome for later development

Answer 37

Caregiver behaviour- Inconsistent sometimes responsive, sometimes neglectful Child's internal working model: sees self as angry and confused Outcome: Clingy, anxious, struggles with independence