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Mary Ainsworth and Attachment Theory. Casey, Chloe and Jazmin. The Attachment Theory. When an infant is born they have a caregiver, and over time they develop a strong emotional attachment to that person. Types of Attachment .
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Mary Ainsworth and Attachment Theory Casey, Chloe and Jazmin
The Attachment Theory • When an infant is born they have a caregiver, and over time they develop a strong emotional attachment to that person.
Types of Attachment On the basis on behaviour children are categorized into three groups. • Secure Attachment • Avoidant Attachment • Resistant Attachment
Secure Attachment • Secure attachment is when an infant is attached to its caregiver in an equal balance between exploration and dependence. • About 65% of one year olds are in this category.
Avoidant Attachment • This type of attachment is when the infant doesn’t seek attention and treats the caregiver as if they are a stranger. • Research shows that about 20% of one year olds are in this category because of neglectful and abusive caregivers.
Resistant Attachment • This particular type of attachment is when is when the infant is anxious whenever the caregiver is near. The infant cries to be picked up then fights to get free, like it is not sure of what it really wants. • 12% of infants are in this category of attachment.
Indicators of Attachment These are some of the indicators of Attachment according to Mary Ainsworth. • Attracting the caregivers attention by crying. • Burying their face in the caregivers lap. • Exploring the environment using the caregiver as a secure “home base” returning from time to time for brief periods. • Crying when the caregiver can no longer be seen. • Clinging to the caregiver especially in the presence of a stranger.
Strange Situation Test • Ainsworth invented the Strange Situation test, which involves the caregiver and infant being taken to an unfamiliar room containing toys. • Caregiver and the infant are left alone in the room. Caregiver does not participate while infant plays and explores. • Stranger enters, converses with parent, then approaches infant. Caregiver leaves inconspicuously. - First separation episode: Stranger's adjusts his behaviour to that of the infant. - First reunion episode: Caregiver greets and comforts the infant, then leaves again. -Second separation episode: Infant is left alone. -Continuation of second separation episode: Stranger enters and again adjusts his behaviour to that of the infant. -Second reunion episode: Parent enters, greets infant, and picks up infant; stranger leaves inconspicuously.
Bibliography • Psychology for the VCE Student, 5th edition – John Grivas and Linda Carter • www.childdevelopmentmedia.com/mary-ainsworth-and-attachment-theory.html (24/10/2011)