Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Question 1

what are the 5 behaviours they used to judge attachment?

Answer 1

proximity-seeking, exploration and secure base behaviour, stranger anxiety, separation anxiety, response to reunion

Question 2

‘a stranger comes in and approaches the baby’ - what does this test?

Answer 2

stranger anxiety

Question 3

‘the caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together’ - what does this test?

Answer 3

stranger anxiety

Question 4

’ the caregiver returns and the stranger leaves’ - what does this test?

Answer 4

reunion behaviour / exploration / secure base

Question 5

what was ‘type A’?

Answer 5

insecure-avoidant: babies explore freely but do not seek proximity and make little effort when the caregiver returns

Question 6

what was ‘type B?’

Answer 6

secure attachment: babies explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver - show moderation separation and stranger anxiety

Question 7

what was ‘type C?’

Answer 7

insecure-resistant attachment: seek greater proximity than others and so explore less - show high levels of stranger and separation anxiety