Mary Ainsworth’s Attachment Theory
emphasized the importance of early relationships built on John Bowlby’s work Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
Strange Situation Assessment
a researcher observes a child’s reactions when a mother briefly leaves her child alone in an unfamiliar room. The way the baby reacts in presence of a stranger can tell us about the attachment style
Attachment Styles
Secure attachment: Securely attached children seek comfort when frightened and prefer parents to strangers. Insecure-avoidant attachment: Anxiously attached children are wary of strangers, exhibit great distress when a parent leaves, but are not comforted by a parent’s return. Insecure-resistant attachment: Avoidantly attached children show little preference for parents over strangers and seek little comfort from their caregivers.
| - | Secure | Resistant | Avoidant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separation Anxiety | Distressed when mother leaves | Intense distress when the mother leaves | No sign of distress when the the mother leaves |
| Stranger Anxiety | Avoidant of stranger when alone, but friendly when the mother is present | The infant avoids the stranger – shows fear of the stranger | The infant is okay with the stranger and plays normally when the stranger is present |
| Reunion behavior | Positive and happy when mother returns | The infant approaches the mother, but resists contact, may even push her away | The Infant shows little interest when the mother returns |
| Other | Uses the mother as a safe base to explore their environment | The infant cries more and explores less than the other two types | The mother and stranger are able to comfort the infant equally well |
| % of infants | 70% | 15% | 15% |