LO 5: Types of attachment The Strange Situation

Learning Objective 5 All students must be able to: Outline the Strange Situation – 8 episodes devised by Ainsworth. Evaluate the Strange Situation method and Attachment Types and the reliability and validity of categorisation. Use knowledge and research to answer exam questions

Feedback answers from lesson prep questions Q. Identify and explain one type of attachment (2 marks)

Measuring attachment Ainsworth looked for four types of behaviours: The infants willingness to explore. Stranger anxiety Reunion anxiety Separation anxiety Discuss what specific behaviours might be being looked for under each of these categories. The observational records led Ainsworth and Bell to classify the infants into 3 broad groups. Securely attached (type B) Insecure –Avoidant (type A) Insecure – Resistant (type C)

Check your key study sheet as we go through the first part of the lesson. Aim – Mary Ainsworth devised a technique called the Strange Situation (SS) in order to investigate how attachment types vary between children. Method – She used a controlled observation She assessed a 100-106 middle class American infants and their primary caregivers

Procedure The SS comprised of eight episodes. Each episode lasted 3 miniutes, apart from the first which only lasted 30 secs. Every aspect of participants’ behaviour was observed and recorded. With particular attention being paid to reunion behaviours. The testing room was an unfamiliar enviroment – hence the name ‘Strange Situation’

Procedure cont. 4. The 8 steps allowed the researchers to assess the following behaviours: Separation from the caregiver (Separation anxiety) Reunion with the caregiver (Reunion behaviour) Response to the stranger (stranger anxiety) If the child used the mother as a secure base to explore the new environment.

Procedure cont. Data was collected using video recordings and a one way mirror. 5. Five categories were recorded: A) Proximity- and contact seeking behaviours B) Contact maintaining behaviours C) Proximity – and interaction- resisting behaviours D) Contact- and interaction resisting behaviours E) Search behaviours 6. Every 15 seconds the category of behavior displayed and recorded on a intensity score of 1-7.

Results Check your results using a textbook. It is important to know the differences between the 3 attachment types. Type A – Insecure Avoidant Type B – Securely Attached Type C – Insecure- Resistant Watch the video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH1m_ZMO7GU

Conclusion Maternal/caregiver sensitivity plays an important role. Who can explain this?

Caregiver sensitivity hypothesis (Ainsworth et al, 1974) argues that the way the mother or caregiver behaves towards an infant directly causes the infant’s attachment type. Securely attached infants have mothers who are sensitive to their needs, insecure-avoidant infants have mothers who ignore them when they need comfort or are distressed, and insecure-resistant infants have mothers who behave ambivalently or inconsistently towards them and put their own needs first.

Test your understanding Which attachment type would you expect each child to show based on the parenting they receive? Test your understanding John’s mother is very sensitive to his needs. She is aware of when he is tired, bored or hungry and responds almost immediately accordingly. Sarah’s mother works from home and is very busy, so although she is aware of Sarah’s needs she mostly ignores them. Deirdre’s mother will sometimes respond to her needs, but other times will ignore her needs. Meaning Deirdre is never sure if her needs will be met by her mother or not. B A C

Evaluation of the Strange Situation Use GAVE to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Strange Situation. Use P.81 (cat book) to help you to develop your points Compare with the person next to you when you have finished. Summarise the evaluation points into a table and be sure to define the any new terms e.g. maternal sensitivity Include 4-5 evaluation PEEL’s

Exam Practice Identify and explain one type of attachment (2 Marks) Outline the strange situation procedure (4 Marks) Explain one limitation of the SS (3 Marks)

Test your understanding – ‘find me a partner’ You will each be given a piece of paper from your teacher. Your piece of paper will either have a question on it or an answer. You need to read it carefully and walk around the classroom, speaking to other students to find the question/answer to your question. When you have found your ‘partner’ stand with them. When everyone has finished, we will go through each question to see if everyone is paired up correctly.

LESSON PREP Lesson Prep 6: Part 1 – Create a key study sheet for the 3 key studies for cultural variations in attachment: Van Ijzendoorn, Grossman & Grossman and Takahashi. Part 2 - Write an answer for the following question and bring it into lesson: Q. Explain one criticism of research on cultural variations in attachment (4 marks)

LO 6: Cultural variations in attachment

Learning Objective 6 By the end of this lesson you will be able; To summarise cross cultural research into attachment – Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg (1988), Grossman & Grossman (1981), Takahashi (1986). To Evaluate the above research

Differing cultures Collectivist Individualistic These terms refer to how individuals perceive themselves in relation to other members of society. Individualistic The focus in these cultures is on independence and achieving what is best for you. These cultures encourage assertiveness, emotional independence and privacy. Collectivist The focus in these cultures is relationships with others and doing what is best for everyone. Collectivist cultures encourage obedience, duty and family integrity.

How might parenting differ in each of types of cultures? Parents set boundaries and give freedom within these boundaries, only intervening when necessary. Leads to children who grow up to be less agreeable and more extravert. Individualistic Collectivist Parents promote values such as helpfulness, working together with their family. Leads to children who grow up to be more agreeable and not very extravert.

The Problem Caregiver sensitivity hypothesis (Ainsworth et al, 1974) argues that the way the mother or caregiver behaves towards an infant directly causes the infant’s attachment type. Securely attached infants have mothers who are sensitive to their needs. Insecure-avoidant infants have mothers who ignore them when they need comfort or are distressed, and insecure-resistant infants have mothers who behave ambivalently or inconsistently towards them and put their own needs first.

Explaining cultural variations in Attachment Grossmann & Grossmann found that German infants were more likely to be classified as avoidant (Type A). Why does this make German parents look bad? Takahashi found that there was variation in attachment when assessing Japanese children. No infants were classified as avoidant and approximately 30% were identified as resistant (Type C). Why does this make Japanese parents look bad?

Feedback answers from lesson prep questions Q. Explain one criticism of research on cultural variations in attachment (4 marks)

Evaluate & apply 1. IN PAIRS – Use GAVE to evaluate cultural variations research 2. Develop 4-5 PEEL’s using P.83 (Cat book)

Evaluation Methodology A strength of both studies is that they both used the strange situation as a method of assessing attachment type. This is a strength because… Therefore the findings can be…

Evaluation of study A weakness is that the Strange Situation technique was designed in America and was aimed at being used to assess attachment type in this country. Therefore, it is aimed more at an individualistic western culture… This is a weakness because… think if it not really a valid tool of measuring attachment in that culture are the results then ….?

Evaluation Another weakness is that In Takahashi’s study the infants become extremely distressed at the left alone stage. Potential psychological harm needs to be considered due to the extreme distress that the infants were placed under. Takahashi showed sensitivity by stopping the observations when infants became too distressed, however the study itself was not stopped This is a weakness because…

Exam Practice (Research Methods) Complete the questions on pg 83 in the ‘Research Methods’ box. Look on pg 208 for meta analysis Look on pg 188 for natural experiment Look on pg 206 for correlation

Research methods: meta-analysis & differences between primary & secondary data Observational techniques (naturalistic/controlled observation, covert/overt, participant/non participant), observational design – behavioural categories, event sampling, time sampling

LESSON PREP Lesson Prep 7: Part 1 – Create a factfile for Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Part 2 - Write an answer for the following question and bring it into lesson: Q. Explain what is meant by maternal deprivation (4 marks)