Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ Flashcards
Aim
To be able to systematically test the nature of attachment
To see how infants (between 9 and 18 months) behave under conditions of mild stress and also novelty
Procedure
The research room was a 9×9 foot space marked into 16 squares to help record the infant’s movements.
106 mc american infants
Their were 8 episodes,each of which highlighted certain behaviours
Used 4 criteria:
separation anxiety
stranger anxiety
reunion behaviour
willingness to explore the room to classify 100 middle class American infants into 1 of 3 categories.
Data was collected by observers using a video recorder or a one way mirror.They recorded what the child was doing every 15 seconds using behavior categories and scoring the intensity on a scale of 1-7.
Findings
Similarities: One similarity found was that exploratory behaviours declined in all infants from episode 2 onwards, whereas the amount of crying increased.
Differences: Ainsworth established 3 main patterns of behaviour the infants displayed
Insecure avoidant (type A)- 22%
Secure attachment (type B)- 66%
Insecure resistant (type C)- 12%
Secure attachment
Infants use their caregiver as a secure base to explore the environment, show some distress during separation, but are easily comforted upon reunion. They show positive emotions and engagement with both caregiver and stranger.
Insecure avoidant
Infants show little to no distress during separation, avoid or show minimal interaction with the caregiver upon reunion, and may even seem indifferent to the stranger. They primarily focus on exploring the environment, suggesting limited reliance on the caregiver for emotional support.
Insecure resistant
Infants show extreme distress during separation, become clingy and demanding upon reunion, and may show anger or ambivalence towards the caregiver. They exhibit difficulty exploring the environment due to heightened separation anxiety
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