Ainsworth's strange situation (1969)

Question 1

Strange situation

Answer 1

A controlled observation designed to test attachment security. Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited with a caregiver.

Question 2

Secure attachment

Answer 2

Generally thought of as the most desirable attachment type, associated with psychologically healthy outcomes. In the strange situation this is shown by moderate stranger and separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion.

Question 3

Insecure-avoidant attachment

Answer 3

An attachment type characterised by low anxiety but weak attachment. In the strange situation this is shown by low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion - an avoidance of the caregiver.

Question 4

Insecure-resistant attachment

Answer 4

An attachment type characterised by strong attachment and high anxiety. In the strange situation this is shown by high levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by resistance to be comforted at reunion.

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

Controlled observation designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. It takes place in a room with quite controlled conditions (Lab) with a two way mirror through which psychologists can observe the infants behaviour.
The behaviours used to judge attachment included:
-Proximity seeking: an infant with good attachment will stay fairy close to the caregiver.
-Exploration and secure-base behaviour: good attachment enables a child to feel more confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base.
-Stranger anxiety: one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches.
-Seperation anxiety: another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver.
-Response to reunion with the caregiver after separation for a short period of time under controlled conditions.
The procedure has 7 episodes, each lasting 3 minutes:
1. The child is encouraged to explore - tests exploration and secure base.
2. A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child - tests stranger anxiety.
3. The caregiver leaves the child and stranger together - tests separation and stranger anxiety.
4. The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves - tests reunion behaviour and exploration/secure base.
5. The caregiver leaves the child alone - tests separation anxiety.
6. The stranger returns - tests stranger anxiety.
7. The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child - tests reunion behaviour.

Question 6

Findings

Answer 6

Ainsworth et al (1978) found that there were distinct patterns in the way that infants behaved. She identified 3 main types of attachment:

1. Secure attachment
2. Insecure-avoidant attachment
3. Insecure-resistant attachment

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

Good reliability
May be culture bound - can’t generalise the results
Valid