Types of Attachment

Mary Ainsworth

Mary Ainsworth worked with John Bowlby and conducted research that provided empirical support for his explanation of attachment.

Types of AttachmentMary Ainsworth was interested in individual

differences in attachment quality and attachment behaviour.

She conducted field research in Uganda that identified that some infants were ‘securely attached’ to their mothers and confidently

explored their environment.

She observed that some mothers were more sensitive to their babies needs and this influenced the nature and quality of the attachment between the infant and mother.

Sensitive mothers had securely attached infants.

Securely attached infants, were less anxious, cried less, were more curious about their environment, and appeared more independent.

Mary Ainsworth concluded that the ‘securely attached infants’ used their mothers

as a ‘secure base’.

The Baltimore

Study: Ainsworth

et al., 1971

Ainsworth repeated part of her Ugandan study in an American City. She observed the

relationship between American mothers and babies.

Ainsworth designed the “Strange Situation” to assess the nature and quality of the attachment relationship American infants had with their mothers.

The Strange Situation (1969, 1978)

This is a really

important study its

named on the specification so you could get questions on it. Learn it

well.

Click this for a video

3. Stranger enters..........

4. What behaviour is this episode intended to test?

5. What behaviour is this episode intended to test?

6. S - - - - - - - - - A - - - - - - -

7. Stranger enters and offers comfort.

Write a description of this episode.

Ainsworth found three main types of attachment:

1. Secure Attachment type. Type B

2. Insecure-Avoidant type. Type A

3. Insecure-Resistant. Type C.

Secure Attachment.

Explores.

Distressed on separation.

Greets mother warmly.

When mother present is friendly with strangers.

Insecure-Avoidant

Little interest in exploring.

Little distress on separation.

Avoids contact when mother returns.

Not nervous around strangers

Insecure-Resistant

Appears anxious

Very distressed on separation.

Uncertain of what to do when mother returns.

Child nervous of strangers when mother present.

Insecure-resistant

The strange situation has become the

standard way for psychologists to

asses the quality of a child’s attachment

to its primary attachment figure.

It is now one of the main way

psychologists identify individual differences

in attachment.

You need to know the 3 attachment

types well.You need to be able to describe them but also to recognise them.What type of

behaviours would be typical of a

securely attached child?

How would you recognise the behaviour of a child with an

insecure attachment?

Some of the questions on the exam paper will require you to apply your knowledge not just

reproduce it.

Below is an example.

Andrea has noticed that her two sons are quite different. When she gets home from work the first thing Sam does is to run to her and give her a great big hug, whilst she has to go to find rob to make sure he is okay. When a plumber came to the house the other day Sam was fine

with him, but Rob wouldn’t stop crying and appeared scared.(a) Identify:

(i) the type of attachment shown by Rob. (1 mark)(II) The type of attachment shown by Sam. (1 mark)

(b) Explain how the type of attachment shown by each child could be assessed.

(4 marks)