Types of attachment

Types of attachment

1. The strange situation (Mary Ainsworth) is to test the nature of attachment systematically. Aim was to see how infants (aged 9 & 18 months) behave under mild stress and novelty. Stress is created by presence of a stranger (stranger anxiety) and by separation from caregiver (separation anxiety), which are tested. Also aims to encourage exploration by placing infants in a novel situation, which tests the secure base concept.

   • What did they do? Research room is a novel environment, 9 X 9 foot square marked off into 16 squares to help in recording infants movements. Procedure consists of eight episodes, each designed to highlight certain behaviours.
     • In this data is collected by a group of observers recording what the infant does every 15 seconds. Observers note down which following behaviours are displayed and score the behaviour intensity on a scale of 1 - 7: (1) proximity and contact-seeking behaviour, (2) contact-maintaining behaviours, (3) proximity and interaction-avoiding behaviours, (4) contact and interaction-resisting behaviours, (5) search behaviours.
     • Procedure: (1) Mother, baby and experimenter (lasts less than one minute). (2) Mother and baby alone. (3) Stranger joins mother and infant. (4) Mother leaves baby and stranger alone. (5) Mother returns and stranger leaves. (6) Mother leaves; infant left completely alone. (7) Stranger returns. (8) Mother returns and stranger leaves.

2. What they found: Ainsworth et al (1978), combined data from several studies, total of 106 middle-class infants observed. Found similarities and differences in the way they behaved. Similarities - exploratory behaviours declined in all infants from stage 2 onwards, where amount of crying increased. Proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining behaviours intensified during separation and when stranger appeared. Contact-resisting and proximity-avoiding behaviours occurred rarely towards the caregiver before separation. Differences - found three main types of children, Secure (Type B), Insecure-avoidant (Type A) Insecure-resistant (Type C)

   • Secure attachment; refers to those with harmonious and cooperative interactions with caregiver. Not likely to cry if caregiver leaves room, when feeling anxious they seek close contact and are easily soothed. Seek and are comfortable with social interaction/intimacy. Use caregiver as secure base, explore independently.
   • Insecure-avoidant (anxious); children tend to to avoid social interaction and intimacy. Show little response to separation and don't seek proximity of caregiver on reunion. If picked up shows little/no tendency to cling or resist being put down. They're happy to explore with or without caregiver. High levels of anxiousness and avoidant behaviour, may become angry because attachment needs are not met
   • Insecure-resistant (ambivalent); both seek and reject intimacy and social interaction. Respond to separation from caregiver with intense distress, on reunion children display conflicting desires for and against contact. May angrily resist being picked up while trying other means to maintain proximity.
   • Disorganised; after re-analysis of 200+ SS tapes, led Main and Solomon (1986) to purpose 4th type of attachment. They lack consistent patterns of social behaviour. Lack a coherent strategy for dealing with stress of separation. E.g. show very strong attachment behaviour followed by avoidence or looking fearful towards caregiver or displaying odd movements (stumbling) but only when caregiver is present.

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