Attachment and the Strange Situation Experiment

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Attachment and the Strange Situation Experiment
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What is attachment?

• An infants tendency to seek close,bonded
  emotional relationships with particular people.

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What happened in the Strange Situation Experiment?

• A mother leaves the child in the care of a
  stranger
• When the mother returns the child's reaction to
  the mother is observed..

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Securely Attached

• The infant seeks out the mother and is comforted
  by the moms presence
• 60 -65 of all babies

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Insecurely Attached- Avoidant

• The infant avoids the mother upon her return
• Approximately 20 of all babies fall into this
  category.

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Insecurely Attached- Ambivalent

• The infant shows resistance to the mother upon
  her return OR seeks out the mother and then
  squirms to get away
• 10 of all babies

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Disorganized

• These children are from abusive homes. This can
  be either physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
• 5 of those tested.

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Attachment and Romance

• Secure- Trust others in relationships, form long
  term bonds
• Avoidant- Can become uncomfortable depending on
  others. Are nervous in intimate relationships.
• Ambivalent- Can be anxious about the love of
  others. May cling or become overly dependent.

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Why does attachment matter?

• Secure Attachment These children respond well
  to challenges, are social leaders, and are eager
  to learn.

• Insecure Attachment These children can be
  socially withdrawn, less curious and assertive.

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DOES PARENTING MATTER?(Baumrinds Theory)

• Authoritarian- Highest rate of rule compliance,
  most rebellion without supervision
• Authoritative- Democratic, Responsive, High
  expectations
• Indulgent- Accepting ,Responsive, no demands

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Parenting Styles Impact
Accepting-child center Rejecting, Parent center Authoritarian
Indulgent Neglecting
Demand
Authoritative
Undemand