Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ and types of attachment

Question 1

what study did Mary Ainsworth create?

Answer 1

‘The strange situation’

Question 2

what did the strange situation assess?

Answer 2

how securely attached a child was to its caregiver, and if it is insecurely attached, to assess which type of insecure attachment it has.

Question 3

what type of observation was this?

Answer 3

a controlled observation through a two-way mirror

Question 4

how many stages were there and how long did they last?

Answer 4

7 stages each lasting 3 minutes

Question 5

what is stage 1?

Answer 5

• caregiver enters a room
• places a child on the floor and sits in a chair
• caregiver doesn’t interact with the child unless infant seeks attention

Question 6

what is stage 2?

Answer 6

• stranger enters
• talks to caregiver
• then approaches child with a toy

Question 7

what is stage 3?

Answer 7

• caregiver exits
• infant plays and stranger observes
• if infant is passive stranger will try to interest them in a toy
• if showing distress stranger will try to comfort them

Question 8

what is stage 4?

Answer 8

• caregiver returns and stranger leaves

Question 9

what is stage 5?

Answer 9

• once infant begins to play again caregiver leaves the room so infant is alone

Question 10

what is stage 6?

Answer 10

• stranger enters again and repeats the steps of stage 3

Question 11

what is stage 7?

Answer 11

• stranger leaves and caregiver returns

Question 12

what does the strange situation do to the infant?

Answer 12

places the child in a mildly
stressful situation in order to observe 4 different types of behaviour

Question 13

what are the 4 diff types of behaviour?

Answer 13

separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, willingness to explore and reunion behaviour with the caregiver.

Question 14

using the strange situation what did Ainsworth discover?

Answer 14

3 attachment types

Question 15

what are the 3 attachment types?

Answer 15

secure
insecure resistant
insecure avoidant

Question 16

secure attachment

Answer 16

• most popular attachment type
• found when infant showed some separation anxiety when parent/caregiver leaves the room but can be easily soothed when parent/caregiver returns.
• securely attached infant is able to play independently but used their parent/caregiver as a safe base to explore a new environment.
• accounts for 65% of children.

Question 17

insecure resistant

Answer 17

• infant becomes distressed and tries to follow them when parent/caregiver leaves, but when they return, infant switches from seeking and rejecting social interaction and intimacy with them
• less inclined to explore new environments
• accounts for 3% of children

Question 18

insecure avoidant

Answer 18

• infant shows no separation anxiety when their carer leaves the room and shows no stranger
  anxiety when a stranger enters the room.
• show anger and frustration
  towards their carer and avoid social interaction and intimacy
  with them.
• able to explore and play independently easily, no matter who is present
• around 20% of children