Types of attachment

Secure and insecure attachments are a type of attachment bond that may be established between any two individuals. 

The Strange Situation - Ainsworth and Bell (1970)

Aim: to see how infants (9-18 months) behave under conditions of mild stress. It tests stranger anxiety and separation anxiety. It tests the secure base concept. 

Method:

1) parent and infant play 

2) parent sits while infant plays

3) stranger enters and talks to parent -- stranger anxiety assessed

4) parent leaves, infant plays, stranger offers comfort if needed -- separation anxiety

5) parent returns, greets infant, offers comfort if needed; stranger leaves -- reunion behaviour

6) parent leaves; infant leaves -- separation anxiety

7) stranger enters and offers comfort -- stranger anxiety

8) parent returns, greets infant, offers comfort -- reunion behaviour

Findings: they found similarities and differences in the ways that infants behaved.

Similarity = it was noted that exploratory behaviours declines from ep 2 onwards and the amount of crying increased. proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining behaviours intensified during separation and…