Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Question 1

What was the aim of Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 1

To assess the quality of a child’s attachment to the caregiver

Question 2

What was the procedure for Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 2

7 stages, each about 3 mins long

1. Child encouraged to explore by parent
2. Stranger enters, talks to parent
3. Caregiver leads
4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
5. Caregiver leaves the child alone
6. Stranger returns
7. Caregiver returns

Question 3

How was Ainsworth’s study conducted?

Answer 3

It was a controlled observation - two-way mirror through which psychologists can observe infants

Question 4

How was the quality of the attachment assessed?

Answer 4

Using 5 categories;

1. Proximity Seeking - good attach. = stay fairly close
2. Secure-base behaviour - good attach. = explore but use CG as base
3. Stranger Anxiety - good attach. = shows strang. anx.
4. Seperation Anxiety - good attach. = protest @ separation
5. Reunion behaviour - good attach. = relief/joyful behaviour

Question 5

What were the findings of Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 5

60-75% secure attachment - mod. stranger and separation anxiety
20-25% insecure-avoidant attachment - low stranger and separation anxiety
3% insecure-resistant attachment - high stranger and separation anxiety

Question 6

What are the evaluation points for Ainsworth’s study?

Answer 6

There is support for the predictive validity of the SS - babies with secure infant attachments also have them in later life
SS has good inter-rater reliability
SS is potentially a culture bound test - different meaning outside the West and Europe