Ainsworth’s Strange Situation

Question 1

Ainsworth (1969)

Answer 1

• developed the Strange Situation as a method to assess the quality of a child’s attachment to a caregiver
  It is a controlled observation procedure in a lab with a two-way mirror through which psychologists can observe an infant’s behaviour

Question 2

Ainsworth identified a range of behaviours that indicated attachment strength:

Answer 2

1. Proximity seeking: well-attached infants stay close to caregiver
2. Exploration and secure-base behaviour: good attachment makes a child confident to explore, using the caregiver as point of safety
3. Stranger anxiety: displayed by well-attached infants
4. Separation anxiety: displayed by well-attached infants
5. Response to reunion with the caregiver after separation: well-attached infants are enthusiastuic

Question 3

The procedure has seven ‘episodes’, each lasting three minutes:

Answer 3

1. The child is encouraged to explore by caregiver
2. Stranger enters and talks to caregiver
3. Caregiver leaves
4. The caregiver returns, the stranger leaves
5. The caregiver leaves so the child is alone
6. The stranger returns
7. The caregiver returns

Question 4

Findings

Answer 4

• evidence for three distinct attachment types which correlated with the level of sensitive responsiveness of the parent
• This suggests that secure attachment develops due to the attention of a sensitive responsive mother

Question 5

a- Insecure-avoidant attachment

Answer 5

15% of British toddlers
- Child explores freely but does not seek proximity with the mother (no secure base)
- Shows little to no separation and stranger anxiety
- Infants shows little interest and does not require comfort at the reunion stage
→ mothers show little sensitive responsiveness

Question 6

b-Secure attachment

Answer 6

• Child happy to explore but seeks proximity with caregiver (secure base) - Shows moderate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety - Requires and accepts comfort from caregiver on reunion
  → mothers show sensitive responsiveness

Question 7

c- insecure-resistant attachment

Answer 7

15% British toddlers
- Not willing to explore and seeks greater proximity
- Has high stranger and separation anxiety
- Pleased to see mother when she returns but resists comfort from her and may show signs of anger
→ mothers appear inconsistent with their sensitive responsiveness