1. Types of Attachment - Mary Ainsworth and the Strange Situation
Glossary:
Stranger anxiety
Separation anxiety
Types of Attachment - Mary Ainsworth and the Strange Situation
Aims:
Can I outline the four different attachment types?
Can I describe research into different types of attachment? (Steps of the Strange Situation)

2. Post it…
Stanger anxiety Separation anxiety

3. Debate: This house believes that boarding promotes independence and its many benefits outweighs any disadvantages.

4. 4 Types of Attachment Secure Insecure-avoidant Insecure-resistant
Disorganised

5. Types of Attachment Secure Strong, content bond
22%
Secure
Strong, content bond
Result of sensitive responding by care-giver to needs
Results in comfortable social interaction and intimacy
Healthy cognitive and emotional development
In Strange Situation =
Not likely to cry when caregiver leaves the room
Seeks close proximity when anxious
Easily soothed
May be reluctant to leave caregiver’s side prematurely
Uses caregiver as secure base to explore – independent
66%
I – avoidant (anxious)
Avoids social interaction and intimacy due to lack of sensitive responding by caregiver
In Strange Situation =
Little response to separation
Do not seek proximity on reunion
Do not cling or resist if being picked up or put down
Happy to explore with or without caregiver
High levels of anxiety
May exhibit anger due to unmet needs

6. Types of Attachment I- resistant (ambivalent)
Main and Solomon (1986) = re-analysis of 200
Strange Situation tapes
Types of Attachment
12%
I- resistant (ambivalent)
Both seek and reject intimacy and social interaction
In Strange Situation =
Immediate and intense distress upon separation
Conflicting desire for and against contact
Disorganised
Lack of consistent patterns
of social behaviour
Lacks coherent strategy for coping with separation
Strong attachment behaviour followed by
-avoidance
-fearful/anxious behaviour
-odd movements like stumbling but only when caregiver is present!

7. Strange Situation
Novel environment 9X9 foot square divided into 16 squares for recording purposes
Episode (3 min)
Behaviour assessed
1. Parent and infant play
2. Parent sits while infant plays
3. Stranger enters and talks parents
Parent leaves, infant plays,
stranger offers comfort if needed
5. Parent returns, greet infant, offers comfort if needed; stranger leaves
6. Parent leaves, infant alone
Stranger enters and offers comfort
Parent returns, greet infant, offers comfort