ainsworth study

Question 1

what is the aim of the study ?

Answer 1

to determine the influence of maternal behaviour on the childs attachment style

Question 2

what is the sample

Answer 2

100 American infants and their mothers from middle class families.

Question 3

what is the research design and measurement tool

Answer 3

research- observational study
measurement- videoed from video checklist used

Question 4

what was the procedure?

Answer 4

Involves a series of eight observed episodes lasting approximately 3 minutes each, whereby a mother, child and stranger are introduced, separated and reunited in a controlled lab setting containing chairs and toys.

Question 5

what were the observations found?

Answer 5

Stages 1-3 - Willingness to use mum as a safe base to explore the environment
Stages 4, 6 - Separation anxiety
when separated from mum
Stages 3 and 7- Stranger anxiety when interacting with the stranger Stages 5 and 8- Reunion response behaviour towards the mum on their return

Question 6

what were the 3 types of attachment in bowlbys theory?

Answer 6

type A- insecure avoidant- 20%
type B- secure attachment - 70%
type C- insecure resistant-

Question 6

describe a type B attachment

Answer 6

secure attachment- caregiver attends to infants needs, caregiver is supportive and consistent e.g. mother always avaliable.

Caregivers behaviour- Sensitive responsiveness

infant willingness to explore- High- uses caregiver as a secure base from which to explore

Infant stranger anxiety- High

Infant separation anxiety-Upset

Infant reunion response behaviour- Easy to soothe and quick to settle back to exploration on reunion with caregiver

Question 7

describe type A attachment

Answer 7

Caregivers behaviour- Shows little sensitive responsiveness, may ignore infant, not able to engage with addressing needs of baby e.g. post- natal depression

Infant willingness to explore- Shows insecurity by ignoring caregiver- doesn’t use caregiver as base to explore their environment

Infant stranger anxiety- Low anxiety

Infant separation anxiety Indifferent-shows little emotion when the caregiver leaves, ignores

Infant reunion response behaviour- Does not attempt to get comfort from caregiver on their return

Question 7

what is the main contribution of ainsworth strange situation test for attachment to psychology?

Answer 7

The strange situation test provides a highly controlled standard diagnostic tool used to measure strength and type of attachment between caregivers and their infants.

The strange situation test can be replicate enhancing the repeatability and generalisability of its findings.

Question 8

descriver type C attachment (insecure resistant)

Answer 8

Caregivers behaviour- Inconsistent with their sensitive responsiveness

Infant willingness to explore- Does not explore the environment is inconsistent wanting closeness with or distance from caregiver

Infant stranger anxiety- High

Infant separation anxiety- Highly upset

Infant reunion response behaviour-Seeks and rejects- unable to settle when reunited with caregiver rejecting attention such that they cling to her but also kick and push her away

Question 9

what are 3 criticisms of ainsworth study?

Answer 9

Culturally biased- created + tested in the USA- Ainsworth assumed that the strange situation is suitable across different cultures

Observation was only a snap shot- caregiver or infant might distort their behaviour due to the artificial laboratory situation

Unethical - causes distress in the infant

Question 10

van ijzendoorn and kroonenberg carried out cross cultural metal analysis of the strange situation research what were similarities across all cultures

Answer 10

Evidence of all three attachment types in all cultures
Secure attachment most common attachment type in all countries

Question 10

van ijzendoorn and kroonenberg carried out cross cultural metal analysis of the strange situation research what was found in germany?

Answer 10

More anxious avoidant attachment in Germany – German’s value independent children so try to raise non-clingy infants

Question 11

van ijzendoorn and kroonenberg carried out cross cultural metal analysis of the strange situation research what was found in japan?

Answer 11

More anxious resistance in Japan- Japanese value an especially close relationship with their children and are rarely left by their caregivers and thus react differently to separation

Question 11

what was the aim and study analysis of van ijzendoorn and kroonenberg

Answer 11

Aim: To carryout a meta analysis of strange situation research conducted cross culturally
Study analysis – 32 studies, 8 different countries