Ainsworth's 'strange Situation'

Question 1

Who did the strange situation experiment?

Answer 1

Ainsworth and Bell 1970

Question 2

What was the aim of the strange situation?

Answer 2

Aimed to asses the individual differences in attachment.

Question 3

What type of experiment did they use?

Answer 3

Laboratory

Question 4

How many infants did they use and how old were they?

Answer 4

106 middle class American infants aged 12-18 months.

Question 5

What were the 4 key behaviours they were testing for?

Answer 5

1. Separation anxiety
2. Stranger anxiety
3. Reunion behaviour
4. Willingness to explore

Question 6

Separation anxiety

Answer 6

The amount of distress shown when caregiver briefly leaves

Question 7

Stranger anxiety

Answer 7

The amount of distress shown in response to a stranger

Question 8

Reunion behaviour

Answer 8

Behaviour on being reunited with their caregiver

Question 9

Willingness to explore

Answer 9

Whether the infant feels they have a secure base to explore the environment (inc whether they orientate towards caregiver)

Question 10

How much of the sample was securely attached?

Answer 10

66% of the sample