Attachment – Measures And Types

Question 1

Proximity

Answer 1

The physical distance between infants and caregiver. A secure relationship copes but does not enjoy low proximity

Question 2

Separation distress

Answer 2

Emotional distress displayed by an infant when a caregiver leaves them. Occurs with secure attachment

Question 3

Stranger anxiety

Answer 3

The emotional distress displayed by the infant when a stranger is present. Occurs with a secure attachment

Question 4

Secure base behaviour

Answer 4

The caregiver is a secure base. The infants ability to explore and return to the caregiver for comfort proves this

Question 5

Response to reunion

Answer 5

The behavior displayed when the caregiver returns

Question 6

Ainsworth strange situation

Answer 6

Assess the quality of attachment
Used 100 middle class, American infants aged 12-18 months and their parents
8 episodes occurred lasting 3 minutes each

Question 7

Secure attachment (type B)

Answer 7

Explore happily but return to carer (safe base)
Moderate separation distress
Moderate stranger anxiety
Accept comfort from caregiver
↓
70% of public

Question 8

Insecure avoidance (type a )

Answer 8

Explore happily with no return to the carer (no safe base)
No separation anxiety
No stranger anxiety
No comfort needed /accepted
↓
15% of public

Question 9

Insecure resistant (type c)

Answer 9

Less happy to explore
Extreme stranger anxiety
Extreme separation anxiety
Resist comfort
↓
15% of public

Question 10

Insecure disorganized (type D)

Main and Solomon

Answer 10

Inconsistent, contradicting behaviour
Approaching, freezing
Due to neglect, trauma, abuse
Occurs in 80% of child maltreatment cases
↓
15% of public

Question 11

Ainsworth strange situation episodes

Answer 11

1. The child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar playroom
2. The child is encouraged to explore - exploration and secure base
3. A stranger enters an interacts with child - test stranger anxiety
4. The caregiver leaves trials with stranger - test separation and stranger anxiety
5. Caregiver returns as stranger leaves - test reunion behaviours and secure base
6. Caregiver leaves child alone - test separation anxiety
7. Stranger returns – test stranger anxiety
8. Caregiver returns and reunites with child – tests reunion behaviour
   ↓
   3 mins each
   Time sampling every 15 secs

Question 12

Strengths of ainsworth strange situation

Answer 12

Controlled observation - increases internal validity by reducing extraneous variables
Replicable (procedure is standardized) - increases reliability

Question 13

Limitations of ainsworth strange situations

Answer 13

Low population validity – uses a WEIRD sample
Ethnocentric – uses emic approach but applied etically
Control observation – lacks ecological validity