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ProfessorElephant3177
AIMS: Ainsworth et al. aimed to investigate individual variation in…
AIMS: Ainsworth et al. aimed to investigate individual variation in infant attachments; in particular differences between secure and insecure attachments. They hoped that their method of assessing attachments, the Strange Situation test, would be a reliable and valid measure of attachments.
PROCEDURES: The Strange Situation test lasts for approximately 20 minutes and was used on American infants aged between 12 and 18 months. The child is observed during interactions with his/her mother and a stranger as well as reactions to being left alone or with the stranger.
FINDINGS: The Strange Situation demonstrated considerable individual differences in secure and insecure attachment types. Most of the infants displayed behavior categorized as typical of secure attachment (70%), whilst 15% were anxious resistant and 15% were anxious avoidant. The securely attached infants were distressed when separated from the caregiver, and sought contact and soothing on reunion. Anxiolis resistant attachment was characterized by ambivalence and iiiconsistency , as the infants were very clistressed at separation but resisted the caregiver on reunion. Anxious avoidant attachment was characterised by detachment as the infants did not seek contact with the caregiver and showed little distress at separation.
CONCLUSIONS: The Strange Situation is a good measure of attachment in so far as being able to discriminate between attachment types. It was concluded that secure attachment is the preferred type of attachment. Implications include the linking of secure attachment to healthy emotional and social development and the ~ of attachment to maternal sensitivity and responsiveness.
EVALUATION: Main and Solomon (1986) proposed a fourth attachment type as they found that a small number of infants display disorganized attachment, where the infants show no consistent pattern of behavior, and fitting none of the three main attachment types. Thus, the validity of the three attachment types is supported as Main and Solomon do not reject any of these as invalid, but the validity of the test as a measure must be questioned as it failed to identify the fourth attachment type.
The test was created in the USA, which means that it may be culturally biased (ethnocentric), as it will reflect the nonns and values of American· culture. The test assumes that behavior has the same meaning in all cultures, when in fact social constructions of behavior vary ,greatly. Thus the usefulness of the Strange Situation in assessing attachment across cultures may be limited by the subjectivity inherent in observation and interpretation of behavior. This lack of generalizability means that the ecological validity of the Strange Situation must be questioned. However, further replications of the research have found similar findings in a variety of different cultures.
Ainsworth et al., 1978 has been criticized in a number of different ways. Look at the list below and determine whether these points are legitimate criticisms of their research. In the space provided next to the statements, wRRRiT3
yes or no.
1. _____ The study was originally conducted and based upon American samples, which might not relate to other cultures.
2. ______ The research was conducted in the baby’s home and so it has good ecological validity.
3. ______ Lamb et al., 1985 criticized it for being highly artificial
4.________ Although the research was conducted in the laboratory which would suggest that it has low ecological validity, it has been replicated extensively which would suggest that it has good ecological validity.
5._______ The amount of information obtained from the research findings is rather extensive as it takes into account the mother’s behavior as well as the child’s temperament
6.______ Four types of individual differences in attachment were identified from this original research.
7._______In subsequent research by Sagi et al., 1991 Germany showed a high proportion of Type A-Insecure Anxious-Avoidant Attachment
8.______ The children were not ethically allowed to be part of the research as their parents did not give consent to take part.
9.________ Children were put under a great deal of stress during the procedure which could potentially have had long-term effects upon future development although the situation is modeled upon common everyday experiences.
10.______The research has good experimental validity as children are too young to pick up on demand characteristics.
Nature or Nurture?
Each of the items below relate more strongly to nature or nurture. Decide which is the stronger evidence.
1. NATURE/NURTURE genetic relatives in adoption studies
2. NATURE/NURTURE adoption agencies tend to place separated twins in similar homes
3. NATURE/NURTURE adopted children similar to adoptive parents in adoption studies
4. NATURE/NURTURE children’s attitudes, values, manners, faith, politics
5. NATURE/NURTURE facial expressions and fear of strangers
6. NATURE/NURTURE 46 chromosomes with DNA
7. NATURE/NURTURE monozygotic twins have the same genes
8. NATURE/NURTURE monozygotic twins have higher concordance rates than dizygotic twins
9. NATURE/NURTURE self-giving behaviors and religious beliefs
10. NATURE/NURTURE extroversion & agreeableness
11. NATURE/NURTURE Jim Twins-separated twins who when they met as adults were extremely similar including having married the same-named wife
12. NATURE/NURTURE Bouchard (2009) monozygotic twins reared apart similar tastes, interests, and personality traits
13. NATURE/NURTURE Skeel’s & Dye research regarding intelligence; Children from an orphanage were either sent to live in a group home with mentally-challenged adults or were raised in the orphanage. IQ scores of those moved to the group home were significantly enhanced whereas those who stayed in the orphanage had reduced IQ scores.
14. NATURE/NURTURE Temperament styles
