Lesson 3 - Types of Attachment

Question 1

Strange Situation

Answer 1

Methodology used by Ainsworth et al. (1970) to investigate differences in attachments between infants and caregivers
Controlled observation
Took place in a furnished room with toys

Question 2

Infant Observations

Answer 2

Proximity Seeking
Stranger Anxiety
Separation Protest
Reunion Joy

Question 3

Insecure Avoidant

Answer 3

20% of babies
Largely ignore caregiver and play independently and explore the room
No signs of distress when caregiver is absent (no separation protest)
Ignore caregiver when return (no reunion joy)
Distressed when left alone but comforted by stranger as easily as caregiver (no stranger anxiety)

Question 4

Secure Attachment

Answer 4

70% of babies
Play happily when caregiver is present as is treated as a safe base while they explore the room
Baby is distressed when caregiver leaves (separation protest)
Even when not alone, still distressed
Seeks immediate contact with caregiver (reunion joy)
Wary of stranger (stranger anxiety) but accepts some comfort

Question 5

Insecure Resistant

Answer 5

10% of babies
Fussy and cry more
Not explore room or play with toys (clingy)
Distressed hen caregiver leaves (extreme separation protest)
Resist comfort from caregiver on reunion (no reunion joy)
Resist stranger’s attempts to make contact (extreme stranger anxiety)

Question 6

Strange Situation Evaluation
Replicated
Positive

Answer 6

Has been replicated many times
Easy to replicate
High level of control and standardises procedures
Carried out successfully in many different cultures
High validity

Question 7

Strange Situation Evaluation
Methodology
Negative

Answer 7

Culturally biased - methodology developed in US
Does not work in Germany
Children encouraged to be independent and self-reliant

Question 8

Strange Situation Evaluation
Main and Weston (1981) Sample Biased
Negative

Answer 8

Gender biased - only used as mothers as caregivers
Child might be insecurely attached to mothers but securely attached to fathers
Strange situation does not measure child’s overall attachment style
Found children behave differently depending on parent

Question 9

Strange Situation Evaluation
Ecological Validity
Negative

Answer 9

Strange situation is artificial
Lacks ecological validity
Babies’ attachment behaviour is stronger in lab than home

Question 10

Strange Situation Evaluation
Proximity Seeking
Negative

Answer 10

Some measures have been questioned

Proximity could be a measure of insecurity rather than security

Question 11

Strange Situation Evaluation Points

Answer 11

Replicated
Methodology
Main and Weston (1981) Sample Biased
Ecological Validity
Proximity Seeking