Monday, 28 November 2011

Types of attachment

AINSWORTH



Aim: interested in exploring different types of attachment between babies and caregiver
Procedure: 1-18 months observes in lab playroom.
1. m+b play
2. 3 mins later, s+m talk
3. s play with b
4. m leaves, b cries, s comforts.
5. 3 mins later m returns, s leaves
6. 3 mins later, m leaves baby alone.
7. s enters to comfort
8. m teturns, s leaves
Allows to assess separation anxiety+stranger anxiety

Results: Idenitifed 3 types of behaviour
  • Secure infants (B) 70%
    Mother safe base
    happy to explore room when present
    distress when alone
    welcome mum back
    wary of stranger
  • Insecure avoidant attachment (A) 15%
    some distress when left by mum and didnt seek comfort on return.
    reject stranger
    keep distance and avoid closeness
  • Insecure ambivalent (C) 15%
    upset on separation
    not easily comforted when mother returned as angry she left
    Alternated seeking closeness and distance
Main and Solomon (1986)
Some babies didn't fit into any of the categories so developed a Type 4 which is 'disorganised attachment'

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