Ainsworth theory

Ainsworth theory

1. Strange situation test

   • unfamiliar room
   • timed, increasingly stressful scenarios
     • 1. mother carry child to lab room, put baby on floor, sit quietly in chair
     • 2. child free to explore
     • 3. stranger introduced to child in presence of mother
     • 4. mother leave infant with stranger
     • 5. mother return & re-settle baby, stranger leaves
     • 6. child left alone
     • 7. stranger enters & interacts with child
     • 8.mother return again & picks up baby
   • Attachment types
     • Type A
       • Anxious-avoidant
         • detached
       • 15% of British sample
       • infant ignores mother
       • plays independantly
       • not affected by mother parting or returm
       • distressed when alone - easily comforted by strangers
       • unresponsive primary care
       • child knows crying doesn't work
     • Type B
       • Securely attached
       • 70% British sample
       • infant plays contentdly
       • distressed by mother parting
       • relieved on mother's return
       • treats strangers differently to mother
       • sensitive & responsive parent care
       • explore freely before test starts
       • timid with stranger when mother there
     • Type C
       • anxious-resistant
       • 15% British sample
       • discontented while with mother
       • playing less
       • distressed by mothers parting
       • not easily comforted on mothers return
       • may resist contact by mother & stranger
       • inconsistent primary care
       • pick up child, cling but won't stop crying
   • Main & Solomon
     • suggest 4th type
       • Type D
         • Insecure
         • no set pattern at separation or reunion
         • kind of behaviour associated with abused children or chronically depressed mothers
         • appears to have most serious consequences
           • future relationships
           • intellectual development
   • Evaluation
     • standardised procedure
       • easily replicated & measured
     • Unfamiliar situation
       • may not be realistic measure of attachment
     • may be testing parenting styles
     • mother may not be main attachment figure
     • only really aply to western culture
       • secure attachment is desired attachment
       • some think independance attachment better
       • results culturally bound
     • unethical
       • distress
     • temperament affects in anxiety-provoking stages of strange situation
       • care needing in labelling children on basis of response to test alone
     • Van Izendorn & Kronenburg studied attachment types across various cultures using strange situation.