Attachment - strange situation + stages of attachment

Question 1

who was the strange situation developed by

Answer 1

Ainsworth and Bell

Question 2

what did the strange situation measure

Answer 2

different attachment styles

Question 3

what type of study was the strange situation

Answer 3

was an overt, controlled observation
measured attachment that a baby displays towards caregiver

Question 4

what behaviours did the strange situation focus on

Answer 4

seperation anxiety
stranger anxiety
reunion behaviour

Question 5

procedure of the strange situation

Answer 5

8 episodes which all lasted 3 minutes
behaviours were observed through behavioural categories such as crying and moving away

Question 6

3 attachment types from the strange situation

Answer 6

Type A; insecure avoidant baby
Type B; secure
Type C; insecure resistant

Question 7

behaviours shown by an insecure avoidant baby (Type A)

Answer 7

no reaction to strangers, separation or reunion - they are more independent

Question 8

behaviours shown by a secure baby (Type B)

Answer 8

shows moderate distress at separation

Question 9

behaviours shown by a insecure resistant baby (Type C)

Answer 9

extreme separation and stranger anxiety - seek and reject comfort on reunion

Question 10

what cultures are type c and a babys common in

Answer 10

Type A - individualistic
Type C - collectivist

Question 11

why does the strange situation lack internal validity
(A03)

Answer 11

was an overt observation - participants may have had demand characteristics (parents)
if the parents change behaviour, may cause babies to change their behaviours
therefore can’t be sure if results are accurate of a real life setting

Question 12

why does the strange situation have high reliability
(AO3)

Answer 12

used multiple observers - therefore has inter observer reliability
reliability increases as results are more consistent - the observers were all trained and agreed on the attachment type in 94% of cases
high reliability - procedure rakes place under controlled conditions

Question 13

why is the strange situation culturally bound
(A03)

Answer 13

the strange situation was only developed in Britain and the USA
therefore may not be a valid measure of attachment in other cultures
babies have different experiences in different cultures which may affect their responses to the strange situation
Takashi studied this - high number of babies in Japan classed as Type C - suggests anxiety due to unusual behaviour of rare separation

Question 14

why is the strange situation reductionist

Answer 14

It only proposes 3 attachment types
not all babies may fit into one of the categories
Mary main and Judith Solomon found a 4th type - Type D/ disorganised which was a mis of resistant and avoidant behaviours - but is unusual

Question 15

what did Schaffer and Emerson study

Answer 15

studied attachment behaviours of babies, and proposed that there were four identifiable stages of attachment

Question 16

what was the first stage of attachment called and when did it occur

Answer 16

asocial
first few weeks of a baby life

Question 17

behaviours in the asocial stage (stage one)

Answer 17

behaviours towards humans and inanimate objects is fairly similar
in this stage, babies form attachment with certain people which form the basis of later attachments
however, didn’t believe it was entirely asocial as babies showed signs of preferring people

Question 18

what was the second stage of attachment called and when did it occur

Answer 18

indiscriminate
2-7 months

Question 19

behaviours in the indiscriminate stage (stage two)

Answer 19

more obvious and observable social behaviours
clear preference for wanting to be with humans than inanimate objects
usually accept cuddles and comfort from anyone
don’t normally show separation anxiety when caregivers leave their presencne or stranger anxiety

Question 20

what was the third stage of attachment called and when did it occur

Answer 20

specific
from 7 months

Question 21

behaviours in the specific stage (stage three)

Answer 21

display classic signs of attachment towards one particular person
anxiety directed towards strangers, especially when attachment figure is not present
baby has formed specific attachment with primary caregiver

Question 22

what was the fourth stage of attachment called and when did it occur

Answer 22

multiple
shortly after babies show attachment behaviour

Question 23

behaviours in the multiple stage (stage four)

Answer 23

extend attachment behaviour to multiple attachments with their people they regularly spend time with - secondary attachment
by the age of one year the majority of babies had developed multiple attachments

Question 24

why do the stages of attachment have good external validity

Answer 24

most of their observation were made by parents during ordinary activities and then reported to the researchers after rather than researchers being present to record behaviours which may have affected results by making babies anxious

Question 25

why do the stages of attachment have real world application

Answer 25

the research has application in day care in the asocial and indiscriminate stages, day care is simple as they can be comforted by any skilled adult starting day care during the specific stage can be problematic

Question 26

why is their poor research for the asocial stage

Answer 26

the measures they used to assess the attachment in the asocial stage were poor young babies are fairly immobile, and therefore may display anxiety in everyday situation in a subtle way this would be hard to report and record babies may be social but due to poor methods, appear asocial