Attachment 2

Attachment 2

1. Types of Attachment

   • Securely Attached
   • Insecure Avoidant - Child isn't distressed when separated with caregiver. Can be comforted by a stranger and tends to socially isolate themselves
   • Insecure Resistant - Uneasy around caregiver but is upset when they are separated. Can't be conforted by a stranger. Can accept/reject interaction
   • The Strange Situation - Ainsworth et al
     • Controlled observation. 12-18 month olds were observed in 8 different scenarios.
     • 1) Mother and child enter experimental room 2) Infant allowed to explore whilst mother sat on a chair
     • 3) Stranger entered room, spoke to mother and tried to play with child 4) Mother exited room 5) Mother returned and stranger exited
     • 6) Mother exited room leaving infant alone 7) Stranger returned 8) Mother returned and stranger left
     • 15% were insecure avoidant. 70% were securely attached and 15% were insecure resistant
     • Strict control of variables. Low EV. Observer bias. Mother may not be main caregiver

2. Attachment in different cutures

   • Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
     • meta-analysis on 32 studies of the SS in different countries. Secure attachment was most common.
     • In western cutures, the dominant type of attachment was avoidand and in non western the dominant type was resistant
     • Children are brought up in different ways so the SS could be an unsuitable method.