Attachment Theory

 Mary Ainsworth- Attachment Theory

Mary Ainsworth studied attachment by placing infants in a novel (new) situation.

She observed how infants reacted when:

• Their parents left them alone for a short time
• Their parents returned

This setup is known as the Strange Situation.

It helped identify different types of attachment based on the infant’s reaction to separation and reunion.

1. Secure Attachment (~66%)

• Infants explore the environment when parents are present
• Distressed when parents leave
• Seek comfort and go to parents when they return

2. Avoidant Attachment (~21%)

• Infants avoid being held
• Still explore the environment
• Do not seek comfort from parents when they return

3. Anxious/Ambivalent (Resistant) Attachment (~12%)

• Infants show extreme stress when parents leave
• Resist comfort when parents return
• Shows insecure and confused response