Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Question 1

Ainsworth experiment aims + procedure

Answer 1

Aim: to see how infants aged between 9-10 months act under mild stress/ novelty.

Procedure: assess the quality of attachment in control. obs.

Question 2

proximity seeking

Answer 2

child with a good attachment will stay close to caregiver

Question 3

secure base behaviour

Answer 3

point of contact that makes child feel safe

Question 4

stranger anxiety

Answer 4

anxiety when stranger approaches

Question 5

separation anxiety

Answer 5

protest when caregiver leaves

Question 6

response to reunion

Answer 6

how child responds to caregiver’s return

Question 7

insecure avoidant (Type A)

Answer 7

infants do not seek proximity, show secure base behaviour. low stranger+sep anxiety. little sensitive responsiveness

Question 8

secure (Type B)

Answer 8

infants use mothers as safe base. moderate stranger anxiety, sep anxiety is shown. show sensitive responsiveness

Question 9

insecure resistant (Type C)

Answer 9

infants do not explore, seek closeness to mum. high stranger+ sep anxiety. mothers are inconsistent with sensitive responsiveness

Question 10

strength- reliable

Answer 10

inter-rater reliability; johanna found agreement of attachment type in 94% cases due to controlled conditions= attachment is not subjective judgement

Question 11

weakness- culture bias

Answer 11

study was based in America meaning the behaviour categories are American values

Question 12

weakness- ethical issues

Answer 12

the children were put under mild stress which can be harmful to their wellbeing

Question 13

strength- practical applications

Answer 13

Strange Situation helps identify insecure attachments- enables early interventions like parenting support and therapy. This improves emotional and social development- useful in childcare, adoption, and education.