Types of attachment

Question 1

Who developed the ‘Strange Situation’ and why?

Answer 1

Mary Ainsworth (1969) as a method to assess the quality of child’s attachment to a caregiver

Question 2

Where did the Strange Situation take place?

Answer 2

In a room with controlled conditions (lab) with a two-way mirror and/or camera so the psychologist can observe the baby’s behaviour

Question 3

Explain the procedure of the Strange Situation

Answer 3

The caregiver and baby enter the room
The caregiver encourages the baby to explore
A stranger enters, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby
The caregiver leaves so the baby and stranger are left together
The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves
The caregiver leaves so the baby is alone
The stranger returns
The caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby

Question 4

What does the caregiver initially encouraging the baby to explore while they’re in there test?

Answer 4

Exploration/ secure base

Question 5

What does the stranger initially entering test?

Answer 5

Stranger anxiety

Question 6

When the caregiver leaves the baby and the stranger alone together, what does it test?

Answer 6

Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety

Question 7

What is tested when the caregiver returns?

Answer 7

Reunion behaviour

Question 8

What is being tested when the caregiver leaves so the baby is alone?

Answer 8

Separation anxiety

Question 9

What is being tested when the baby is alone and then the stranger returns?

Answer 9

Stranger anxiety

Question 10

What did Ainsworth find from this experiment?

Answer 10

She found that there were distinct patterns in the way babies behaved. She identified 3 main types of attachment: Type A, B and C

Question 11

Describe type B attachment

Answer 11

Secure attachment
60-75% of British toddlers
Happy to explore but seek proximity with caregiver (secure base)
Shows moderate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
Requires and accepts comfort from caregiver on return

Question 12

Which type of attachment is secure attachment?

Answer 12

Type B

Question 13

What percent of British toddlers have type B attachment (secure attachment)

Answer 13

60-75%

Question 14

Describe exploration and proximity shown in babies with type B attachment

Answer 14

Happy to explore but seek proximity with caregiver

Question 15

Describe stranger and seperation anxiety in type B attachment

Answer 15

Moderate stranger and separation anxiety

Question 16

Describe how the babies respond to comfort on reunion in type B attachment

Answer 16

Requires and accepts comfort from caregiver

Question 17

What type of attachment is insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 17

Type A

Question 18

What percent of British toddlers have type A attachment (insecure-avoidant attachment)

Answer 18

20-25%

Question 19

Describe exploration and proximity shown in babies with type A attachment

Answer 19

Child explores freely but does not seek proximity

Question 20

Describe stranger and seperation anxiety in type A attachment

Answer 20

Shows little/ no separation and stranger anxiety

Question 21

Describe how the babies respond to comfort on reunion in type A attachment

Answer 21

Doesn’t require comfort

Question 22

What type of attachment is insecure-resistant attachment?

Answer 22

Type C

Question 23

What percent of British toddlers have type C attachment (insecure-resistant attachment)

Answer 23

Around 3%

Question 24

Describe exploration and proximity shown in babies with type C attachment

Answer 24

These babies seek greater proximity than others and so explore less

Question 25

Describe stranger and seperation anxiety in type C attachment

Answer 25

They show high levels of stranger and separation distress

Question 26

Describe how the babies respond to comfort on reunion in type C attachment

Answer 26

Resists comfort

Question 27

Give 2 strengths of the Strange Situation

Answer 27

1. Can be used to predict the baby's later development - Research showed that babies/ toddlers assessed as Type B (secure) tend to have a better outcome both in childhood and adulthood. They achieved more in school, are less involved in bullying and tended to have better mental health in adulthood. 2. Good inter-rate reliability - Bick et al. tested inter-rate reliability for the strange situation. A team of trained observers found agreement on attachment type in 94% of cases. This high level of reliability is because the procedure takes place under controlled conditions. We can be confident that attachment types assessed by the strange situation does not depend on subjective judgements.

Question 28

Give 2 limitations of the Strange Situation

Answer 28

1. Some psychologists believe that the strange situation doesn't actually measure attachment. Psychologists suggested that genetically-influenced anxiety levels could account for variations in attachment behaviour 2. May not be a valid measure of attachment in other cultures - the strange situation was developed in the UK and USA. Babies have different experiences in different cultures and these may affect their responses to the strange situation. In a Japanese study, babies displayed very high levels of seperation anxiety so many were classified as insecure-resistant, but it was suggested that this was because of cultural differences in Japan where mother-baby seperation is very rare.

Question 29

What was the 4th additional category added later on?

Answer 29

Type D attachment - a mixture of resistant and avoidant behaviours. Type D babies are unusual and have generally experienced some form of severe neglect or abuse. Most of these babies will go on to develop psychological disorders by adulthood