Types Of Attachment Flashcards
What are the 3 types of attachment?
Secure, Insecure-Avoidant & Insecure-Resistant
What does a secure attachment look like?
Infant becomes distressed if separated from primary caregiver, but when reunited they can be easily comforted by primary caregiver. They can play independently but use their caregiver as a safe base.
What does an Insecure-Avoidant attachment look like?
Infant isn’t particularly distressed if separated from primary caregiver, and can usually be comforted by a stranger. They play independently easily, no matter who is present.
What does an Insecure-Resistant attachment look like?
Infant is often uneasy with their caregiver, but becomes very distressed if they’re separated. Comfort can’t be given by strangers, and is often resisted from caregiver. Infants are also less inclined to play independently.
What was Ainsworth et al’s (1978) study?
The Strange Situation
What 4 types of behaviour was Ainsworth observing?
Separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, willingness to explore and reunion behaviour with the caregiver
What % of children in Ainsworth’s study had a secure attachment?
70%
What % of children in Ainsworth’s study had an insecure-avoidant or insecure-resistant attachment?
15%
What does the Strange Situation lack ecological validity?
It was conducted in a lab setting, not the usual environment that the children and parents would be in
Why does the Strange Situation lack population validity?
Primarily based on western culture, which has different views on attachments to other cultures (i.e. collectivist cultures), so can’t generalise
How could demand characteristics have played a part in the Strange Situation?
Mothers may have changed their behaviour, as they knew they were being observed
Which study looked at cultural variations in attachment?
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)
What type of study was Van Izjendoorn and Kroonenberg’s study?
Meta-analysis
How many studies and across how many countries did VI and K’s study span?
32 studies across 8 countries
What was the main finding of VI and K’s meta-analysis?
The percentages of children classified as secure or insecure were similar across the countries tested. There were more differences within the countries than between them.
