Ainsworth’s Strage Situation

Question 1

What is the strange situation

Answer 1

A systematic way to test the nature of attachment between infant and caregiver

Question 2

What are the 7 stages of the strange situation

Answer 2

1. Infant and caregiver play
2. Stranger enters
3. Caregiver leaves
4. Caregiver returns and stranger leaves
5. Caregiver leaves
6. Stranger returns
7. Caregiver returns

Question 3

Which 4 types of behaviour was the strange situation testing for

Answer 3

1. Seperation anxiety
2. Stranger anxiety
3. Secure-base behaviour
4. Reunion behaviour

Question 4

In the first stage when the caregiver and infant are playing together which behaviour is this testing for

Answer 4

Secure-base behaviour

Question 5

What are the three types of attachment Ainsworth found

Answer 5

Secure, insecure-resistant and insecure-avoidant

Question 6

What is a secure attachment

Answer 6

• shows secure-base behaviour
• moderate levels of separation and stranger anxiety
• easily comforted when mother returns
• 60-75% British babies are secure

Question 7

What is an insecure-resistant attachment

Answer 7

• not confident to explore and clings to mother
• extreme levels of separation and stranger anxiety
• reunion behaviour- seeks mother and rejects her
• 3% brith babies are insecure-resistant

Question 8

What is an insecure-avoidant attachment

Answer 8

• does not use mother as a secure base and comfortable to explore
• low levels of separation and stranger anxiety
• shows little interest when mother returns
• 20-25% British babies are insecure-avoidant