Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Question 1

Aim…

Answer 1

To investigate the strengths/types of attachment.

Question 2

Participants…

Answer 2

• Middle class
• Mother pair bonds
• 106 infants

Question 3

Method…

Answer 3

• Lab experiment

- Naturalistic observations

Question 4

Procedure…

Answer 4

1) Mother, infant and stranger in lab, observations made of behaviour
2) Mother leaves the room, behaviour is observed
3) Mother comes backs, behaviour is observed
4) Both mother and stranger leave the room, observations made on behaviour
5) Stranger comes back, behaviour is observed
6) Mother comes back, behaviour is observed
7) Naturalistic observations are used to classify the infant into one of the three attachment types

Question 5

Findings…

Answer 5

• Secure (type b): 70%
• Insecure avoidant (type a): 15%
• Insecure resistant (type c): 15%

Question 6

What is meant by secure attachment?

Answer 6

• Separation anxiety when PCG leaves the room (signs of distress, crying, etc.)
• Infant is not comforted by the stranger
• Infant is happy to be reunited with the PCG (sees as safe base)

Question 7

What is meant by insecure avoidant attachment?

Answer 7

• Not a secure attachment when PCG leaves, no separation anxiety
• Becomes distressed when left alone
• No joy on reunification

Question 8

Evaluation of Strange Situation…

Answer 8

• Cultural bias (only in America), cannot be generalised as it doesn’t take cultural differences into account
• Gender bias (only mothers were used
• Doesn’t take into account external variables, eg. temperament or special needs
• Researcher bias, designed by Ainsworth to test her theory
• Socioeconomic bias (only middle class infants were used