Comprehensive study notes on AQA Psychology topic of Attachment.
Can easily be turned into flashcards for effective revision.
Includes practice questions at the end of the document.
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation
Procedure
- Controlled observation to measure the security of attachment with a
caregiver.
- Lab conditions with a two-way mirror to observe behaviour.
- Procedure has 7 episodes, each lasting 3 minutes.
- Behaviours to judge attachment-
→ Child is encouraged to explore -> tests exploration and secure base.
→ A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child -> tests
stranger anxiety
→ The caregiver leaves the child & stranger -> tests separation &
stranger anxiety
→ The caregiver returns and stranger leaves -> tests reunion
behaviour and secure base
→ The caregiver leaves the child alone -> tests separation anxiety
→ The stranger returns -> tests stranger anxiety
→ The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child -> tests reunion
behaviour
Findings
- Secure attachment (Type B)
→ Children explore happily but go back to their caregiver (proximity
seeking and secure base behaviour).
→ Show moderate separation distress and moderate stranger anxiety.
→ Securely attached children require and accept comfort from the
caregiver in the reunion stage.
→ About 65% of British toddlers are securely attached.
- Insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A)
→ Children explore freely but do not show secure base behaviour.
→ Show little to no reaction when caregiver leaves and makes little
contact once they return.
→ Show little stranger anxiety.
→ Do not require comfort at the reunion stage.
→ 25% of toddlers are insecure avoidant.
- Insecure-resistant attachment (Type C)
→ Seek greater proximity than others so explore less.
→ Show huge stranger and separation distress but resist comfort when
reunited with caregiver.
→ 3% of toddlers are insecure-resistant.
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