1. Individual Differences in
Attachment
Types of attachment

2. Mary Ainsworth
Her method of assessing
attachment was the
strange situation
Her typology :
(classification system)
Both of these are still
•Secure
used today
•Insecure-Avoidant
•Insecure-Resistant

3. The Strange Situation –
Ainsworth & Bell (1970)
Aimed to investigate the individual differences in
attachment by seeing how babies reacted in conditions
of mild stress
(created by separation from primary caregiver and the presence
of a stranger)
Observed through
Observing video cameras
Ainsworth & infants aged
Bell used a Purpose built play
between 12-18
room
laboratory months
using 2 chairs and play
structured area
observations
8 situations
Mother, child and
stranger

4. The Strange Situation
Series Persons Brief Description
1 Mother & Infant Infant plays, mother sits and reads
2 Mother, Infant & Stranger Stranger enters & speak to mother
3 Mother, Infant & Stranger Stranger tries to interact with infant
4 Infant & Stranger Mother leaves, stranger comforts
5 Mother & Infant Mother returns, stranger leaves
6 Infant Mother leaves (baby alone in room)
7 Infant & Stranger Stranger enters to play/comfort infant
8 Mother & Infant Mother enters, stranger leaves

5. What were they looking for?!
1. Separation Anxiety
2. Stranger Anxiety
Amount of distress
Amount of distress
shown when
shown in response to
caregiver briefly
a stranger
leaves
4. Willingness to
3. Reunion Behaviour explore
Behaviour on being Whether the infant
reunited with feels they have a
caregiver ‘secure base’ to
explore environment

6. What did they find?!
Ainsworth et al identified 3 main attachment types
Insecure-Avoidant(15%)
Securely Attached (70%)
Infant does not attempt to
Infant explores the
interact with mother, do not
environment, using caregiver as
show anxiety when left with
secure base. Infant shows
stranger. No reunion behaviour
moderate distress when
when mother returns, infants
separated but is easily soothed,
will explore but doesn’t
infant is wary of stranger.
orientate to mother
Insecure-Resistant (15%)
Infant is very distressed when separated, difficult to console on
reunion. Infant rushes to mother but may show anger. Infant ignores
stranger, limited exploration of environment

7. Summarise Ainsworth’s findings
Separation Stranger
Reunion Behaviour Exploration
Anxiety Anxiety
Some but Enthusiastic, easy High
Secure High (using Mother as
easily soothed to soothe secure base)
Avoids contact –
Insecure-
Indifferent Low doesn’t seek High
Avoidant
contact
Insecure-
Distressed High Seeks and rejects Low
Resistant

8. Ainsworth A02 - Positive
The strange
situation is a
For example, a study in
reliable method
Germany found that
78% of children were
classified in the same
way at ages 1 and 6
years old
Why is this a
good thing?

9. Ainsworth A02 - Negative
Lacks ecological
What does this mean?
validity
For example, the
‘playroom’ environment
in which the infant was
interacting was both
strange and unfamiliar
to the infants
Why is this a bad
thing?

10. Ainsworth A02 - Negative
Ethical Issues
For example, in episode
6 (which one is that?)
20% of the infants
reportedly cried
‘desperately’, clearly
showing their distress
Why is this a bad
thing?

11. Ainsworth A02 - Negative
The
classification For example, Main &
system doesn’t Solomon (1986) added a
fit all infants fourth type ‘D’
attachment which was
for babies who were
inconsistent and clearly
didn’t fit Ainsworth’s A,
Why is this a bad B or C
thing?