Ainsworth’s Strange Situation

Question 1

What is The Strange Situation?

Answer 1

A controlled observation consisting of 7 3-minute episodes designed to measure attachment security between an infant and caregiver via behavioural categories such as stranger anxiety and proximity-seeking. It takes place in a singular room, often with toys inside.

Question 2

What is the 1st episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 2

The caregiver brings the baby into the room and encourages them to explore

Question 3

What is the 2nd episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 3

The stranger enters the room and approaches the baby

Question 4

What is the 3rd episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 4

The caregiver leaves the baby and the stranger together in the room

Question 5

What is the 4th episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 5

The stranger leaves and the caregiver returns

Question 6

What is the 5th episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 6

The caregiver leaves

Question 7

What is the 6th episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 7

The stranger returns

Question 8

What is the 7th episode of The Strange Situation?

Answer 8

The caregiver returns

Question 9

What are 6 behavioural categories used to measure attachment security in The Strange Situation?

Answer 9

• Proximity-seeking
• Exploration
• Secure base behaviour
• Stranger anxiety
• Separation anxiety
• Reunion behaviour

Question 10

Describe Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Study

Answer 10

Observed 100 middle-class American infants and their mothers. From this, Ainsworth’s identified 3 main attachment types

Question 11

What 3 main attachment types did Ainsworth’s identify?

Answer 11

• Secure attachment
• Insecure-Avoidant attachment
• Insecure-Resistant attachment

Question 12

Describe how Secure Attachment presents itself in The Strange Situation

Answer 12

The infant explores freely but regularly returns to their caregiver. They display moderate stranger & separation anxiety. They need and accept comfort from the caregiver during the reunion stage.

Question 13

Describe how Insecure-Avoidant Attachment presents itself in The Strange Situation

Answer 13

The infant explores freely, but doesn’t return to their caregiver. They display little to no stranger & separation anxiety. They don’t need and may even avoid comfort in the reunion stage.

Question 14

Describe how Insecure-Resistant Attachment presents itself in The Strange Situation

Answer 14

The infant explores little and remains close to their caregiver. They display high levels of stranger and separation anxiety. They appear to need comfort but resist it in the reunion stage.

Question 15

What percentages of British babies were classified as Securely Attached, Insecure-Avoidant Attached and Insecure-Resistant Attached?

Answer 15

• Secure- 75%
• Insecure-Avoidant- 20-25%
• Insecure-Resistant- 3%

Question 16

What is the main criticism of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?

Answer 16

It is culture-bound and may not be generalisable to other cultures (e.g. collectivistic ones or ones that encourage independence from an early age)

Question 17

How can the methodology of The Strange Situation be criticised?

Answer 17

It lacks ecological validity as it takes place in an artificial, unnatural environment

Question 18

What was the inter-observer reliability rate for The Strange Situation?

Answer 18

94%

Question 19

Why has The Strange Situation have high internal validity?

Answer 19

It maintains a high degree of control over variables, such as ensuring the same stranger is used for each child

Question 20

Is The Strange Situation replicable?

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

Why is The Strange Situation important?

Answer 21

Studies suggest that children who are securely attached are less likely to be involved with bullying (Myron-Wilson & Smith) and have better quality, longer lasting later relationships (Hazan & Shaver). This suggests it measures something important and meaningful in terms of development

Question 22

Why can’t Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Study be generalised?

Answer 22

• She only studied American, middle-class infants and their attachment with their mothers