Types Of Attachment Flashcards
What did Ainsworth conduct?
Observational study testing strength of attachment between a caregiver and an infant.
What was Ainsworth procedure?
Infants aged between 9-18 months were placed into a situation of mild stress, namely an unfamiliar room whereby they are left alone, left with a stranger and reunited with their caregiver. Ainsworth observed infant behaviour through a one way mirror during 8 different scenarios
- Distress on seperation
-Seeking proximity
-Exploration
-stranger anxiety
How much percentage for secure, insecure avoidant and insecure resistant
- 66%
-22%
-12%
What happens in exploration for the three types of attachment
Secure- Returns to mothers at regular intervals using her as a safe base
Insecure- Avoidant The infants explores the environment but does not return to mother
Insecure- resistance: The infant does not explore and is clings
What happens in separation anxiety for the three types of attachment?
Secure- Moderate separation anxiety, infants play seriously disrupted
Insecure-avoidant- Low separation anxiety not concerned with mothers departure
Resistant- High separation anxiety, extremely distressed and violent
What happens in stranger anxiety for the three types of attachment
Secure- Moderate stranger anxiety, moves closer to the mother
Avoidant- Low stranger anxiety, shows little preference between mother and stranger
Resistant- Infant becomes highly distressed when stranger comforts them
What happens in reunion behaviour for the three types of attachment
Secure-Infant pleased to see mother, joy on reunion and seeks proximity
Avoidant- Infant shows little reaction, doesn’t seek proximity or show joy on reunion avoiding intimacy
Resistant- the infant is not easily comforted by mother, seeks but rejects attempts of mothers comfort on reunion
Brief evaluation of strange situation
- Lacks ecological validity
- Lacks internal validity- overt observation
- High reliability - controlled method
