Types of attachment Flashcards
What was the strange situation by Ainswroth?
Controlled observation
Designed to test attachment security
Controlled condiitons
Two way mirror
And/or Cameras
Psychologists observed babies behaviour
What are examples of behaviours that were used to judge attachment?
Proximity seeking - baby with good quality attachment will stay close to caregiver
Exploration and secure base behaviour - good attachment enables a baby to feel confident to explore, using caregiver as secure base
Response to reunion - babies who are securely attached greet the caregiver’s return with pleasure and seek comfort
Stranger anxiety - Moderately displayed by well attached infants
Separation anxiety - Moderately displayed by well attached infants
What was Ainsworths procedure?
Each procedure lasts 3 mins
Child encouraged to explore by caregiver
Stranger enters and talks to caregiver
Caregiver leaves
Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
Caregiver leaves child alone
Stranger returns
Caregiver returns
What is secure attachment?
Type B
Explore happily
Regularly go back to caregiver
Moderate seperation distress
Moderate stranger anxiety
Require and accept comfort from caregiver at reunion stage
60-75% British babies classified as secure
What is insecure attachment?
Type A
Explore freely
Do not seek proximity or show secure base behaviour
Little to no reaction when caregiver leaves
Little stranger anxiety
Little effort to make contact when caregiver returns or avoid contact
20-25% British babies are classified as insecure avoidant
What is insecure resistant attachment?
Type C
Greater proximity
Explore less
High levels of stranger and separation distress
Resist comfort when reunited with caregiver
3% British babies classified as insecure resistant
What is an evaluation for types of attachment?
Good predictive validity
Outcome predicts a number of aspects of the baby’s later development
Babies and toddlers assessed as Type B (secure) tend to have better outcomes
Childhood - better achievement in school, less involvement in bullying
Adulthood - better mental health
Suggesting strange situation measures something real and meaningful in a babys development
What is an evaluation for types of attachment?
Counterpoint to good predictive validity
Clearly measures something important that is associated with later development
May not be attachment
Eg. Genetically influenced anxiety levels could account for variants in attachment behaviour
Suggesting it may not actually measure attachment
What is an evaluation for types of attachment?
Good reliability
Good inter rater reliability
Bick et al
Team of trained observers
Agreement on type of attachment type in 94% of cases
High level of reliability may be due to procudure taking place under controlled conditions
Behaviours involve large movements and are therefore easier to observe
Meaning we can be confident that attachment type as assessed does not depend on subjective judgements
What is an evaluation for types of attachment?
Test may be culture bound
May not be valid in different cultural contexts
Britain and US
Babies have different experiences in different cultures
Experiences may affect their responses to the strange situation
Meaning it is very difficult to know what the strange situation is measuring when used outside Europe and the US
