Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Flashcards
What was the aim of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
To observe attachment security in children (in the context of caregiver relationships).
What was the process of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
- Mother & baby in room, baby explores [SECURE BASE ATTACHMENT].
- Stranger enters, interacts with baby [STRANGER ANXIETY].
- Mother leaves room, stranger tries to comfort baby [SEPARATION ANXIETY].
- Mother returns to room [REUNION].
- Stranger and mother leaves room, infant is alone [SEPARATION ANXIETY].
- Stranger returns to comfort baby [STRANGER ANXIETY].
- Mother returns, stranger leaves [REUNION].
Ainsworth’s study was a ________ ________ of 12-18 month old ________ and their ________.
There was a ________ ________ in a purpose-built ________ playroom.
Controlled observation, infants, mothers.
Video camera, laboratory.
What % of insecure-avoidant infants were there in Ainsworth’s study?
20%.
What % of secure infants were there in Ainsworth’s study?
68%.
What % of insecure-resistant infants were there in Ainsworth’s study?
12%.
What is insecure-avoidant attachment?
Safe Base:
Separation Anxiety:
Stranger Anxiety:
Reunion Behaviour:
What is insecure-avoidant attachment?
Safe Base: infant explores but doesn’t use the mother as a safe base.
Separation Anxiety: no signs of distress.
Stranger Anxiety: not distracted (plays normally).
Reunion Behaviour: no interest when mother returns.
What is secure attachment?
Safe Base:
Separation Anxiety:
Stranger Anxiety:
Reunion Behaviour:
What is secure attachment?
Safe Base: will use the mother as a safe base to explore the environment.
Separation Anxiety: mildly distressed.
Stranger Anxiety: wary of stranger when alone but friendly when mother returns.
Reunion Behaviour: happy when mother returns.
What is insecure-resistant attachment?
Safe Base:
Separation Anxiety:
Stranger Anxiety:
Reunion Behaviour:
What is insecure-resistant attachment?
Safe Base: infant doesn’t explore.
Separation Anxiety: intense distress.
Stranger Anxiety: infant avoids the stranger.
Reunion Behaviour: approaches mother, but resists contact.
What is secure caregiver sensitivity?
When mothers are more sensitive, accepting and co-operative to the child’s needs.
What is insecure caregiver sensitivity?
When mothers are unresponsive to crying and are less affectionate.
What is insecure-resistant caregiver sensitivity?
When mothers are occupied with routine activities when holding the child.
What is insecure-avoidant caregiver sensitivity?
When mothers are more rejecting and pay less attention to the child.
What was the conclusion of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
A baby’s attachment depends on the quality of the mother’s sensitivity.
What are evaluation points for Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
-Cultural bias - conducted on middle-class Americans.
-Lack of ecological validity.
-Real world application - intervention strategies (e.g. caregivers are taught to better understand signals of distress from infants). Rise in the amount of securely attached children.
