Psychology · Year 12 · Attachment · 3.º Período

Types of Attachment

Exploring Ainsworth's Strange Situation and the resulting classifications of secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant attachment. Students will also look at cultural variations in attachment types.

TL;DR:The 'Strange Situation' is perhaps the most famous procedure in developmental psychology. Developed by Mary Ainsworth, it provides a standardised way to measure the quality of attachment between an infant and caregiver. Students learn to identify the three main attachment types: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant. This topic is central to the AQA specification and requires a deep understanding of the specific behaviours associated with each type.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA 4.1.3.5 Ainsworth's Strange Situation
• AQA 4.1.3.6 Cultural variations in attachment

About This Topic

The 'Strange Situation' is perhaps the most famous procedure in developmental psychology. Developed by Mary Ainsworth, it provides a standardised way to measure the quality of attachment between an infant and caregiver. Students learn to identify the three main attachment types: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant. This topic is central to the AQA specification and requires a deep understanding of the specific behaviours associated with each type.

Beyond the procedure itself, students explore cultural variations in attachment. By looking at research from countries like Germany, Japan, and Israel, they challenge the idea that 'secure' attachment looks the same everywhere. This introduces the concept of cultural bias in psychological research and the importance of considering child-rearing practices.

This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of the Strange Situation through role plays or by categorising video case studies.

Key Questions

1. How does the Strange Situation measure attachment security?
2. What are the characteristics of the three main attachment types?
3. How do child-rearing practices across cultures influence attachment?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Insecure attachment means the parent is 'bad'.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that attachment type is often a reflection of the child's adaptation to the parent's consistent style of care, not necessarily a sign of 'bad' parenting. Discussing how different environments might favour different attachment styles helps remove the stigma.

Common Misconception

The Strange Situation is a natural observation.

What to Teach Instead

Clarify that it is a controlled observation in a laboratory setting. This is why it can be replicated easily, but it may lack ecological validity. Comparing it to home-based observations helps students understand the trade-off between control and realism.

Active Learning Ideas

Role Play

The Strange Situation Stages

Students act out the 8 stages of the Strange Situation in small groups. One student plays the mother, one the infant, and one the stranger. They must demonstrate the specific behaviours (e.g., proximity seeking, stranger anxiety) at each stage.

45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle

Global Attachment Data

Groups are given attachment data from different countries (e.g., Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis). They must identify which countries have higher rates of avoidant or resistant attachment and brainstorm cultural reasons why.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share

Defining 'Secure'

Students discuss whether the 'secure' label is a value judgement. They consider if an 'avoidant' child in Germany might actually be seen as 'independent' and 'successful' within that culture's norms.

25 min·Pairs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the characteristics of a secure attachment?

A securely attached infant uses the mother as a safe base to explore, shows moderate distress when she leaves, is wary of strangers, and is easily comforted when the mother returns. This type is associated with sensitive and responsive caregiving.

How do avoidant and resistant attachments differ?

Insecure-avoidant infants show little distress when the mother leaves and ignore her when she returns. Insecure-resistant infants show extreme distress upon separation but may reject comfort or show anger when the mother returns, reflecting inconsistent caregiving.

What did Van Ijzendoorn find about cultural variations?

In their meta-analysis of 32 studies, they found that secure attachment was the most common in all cultures. However, they found higher levels of avoidant attachment in individualistic cultures like Germany and higher levels of resistant attachment in collectivist cultures like Japan.

How can active learning help students understand attachment types?

Role playing the Strange Situation allows students to embody the 'infant' or 'caregiver,' making the behavioural categories (like 'proximity seeking') much more intuitive. By physically moving through the stages, students internalise the sequence and the specific criteria for each attachment type, which is far more effective than just memorising a list from a textbook.