Types of Attachment

Types of Attachment

1. Ainsworth - Strange Situation

   • Procedure: Overt, Non PPT, controlled, time sample
     • Observed a no. of different situations with mums & their babies. 8 different stages during the situation & the babies behaviour was recorded every 15 seconds, noted & rated on a scale from 1-7 of intensity.
       • 4 main behaviours measured: Separation Anxiety, Stranger Anxiety, Use of caregiver as a secure base & Reunion behaviour.
   • Findings: 3 types of attachment styles: secure, insecure avoidant & insecure resistant. There are links between caregiver sensitivity & attachment types. The type of attachment developed by the child is down to the mum.
   • Evaluation
     • + High Control: Many confounding variables are accounted for e.g. used the same stranger, same room, same actions = Cause & effect statements
       • + Also means it's reliable!
     • - 3 attachment types is too limited: there's evidence to show that other types exist e.g. insecure disorganised. Also, some babies don't have specific attachement types - it varies
       • - low population validity: only carried out on a small sample, meaning we can't make generalisations
         • - American study = culturally different
           • - Ignores the role that dad plays: would the baby have acted different if dad was in the room rather than mum e.g. they may have explored more as dad is the 'fun' one
       • - Unethical: babies get distressed
       • - Lacks ecological validity: lab setting isn't like real life

2. 3 types

   • Secure Infants
     • Uses mum as a secure base
     • Explores close to mum
     • Quite distressed when mum leaves but calms quickly
     • Happy to see mum when she returns
     • Wary of stranger
     • 70%
     • Associated with responsive & sensitive primary care
   • Insecure Avoidants
     • Little distress when mum leaves & doesn't care when she returns
     • Rejects strangers attempt of comfort
     • Keeps a distance from everyone
     • 20%
     • Associated with unresponsive primary care
   • Insecure-Resistant
     • Very upset when mum leaves & is angry when she returns
     • Alternates between wanting closeness & distance
     • 10%
     • Associated with inconsistent primary care