Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Content

Question 1

What is the research method of the strange situation?

Answer 1

Controlled observation

Question 2

What were the behaviours used to judge attachment in the strange situation?

Answer 2

. Proximity seeking: an infant with good attachment will want to be close with caregiver
. Exploration and secure-base behaviour: an infant with good attachment will be confident to explore but will return to caregiver for a secure base
. Stranger anxiety: display of anxiety when a stranger approaches, sign of close attachment
. Separation anxiety: display of anxiety when separated from caregiver, sign of close attachment
. Response to reunion with caregiver after a short period under controlled conditions

Question 3

What are the three types of attachment?

Answer 3

. Secure
. Insecure-avoidant
. Insecure-resistant

Question 4

How long do each of the episodes of the strange situation last?

Answer 4

3 minutes (controlled)

Question 5

What happened in each of the episodes of strange situation and what was each testing?

Answer 5

1. Child is encouraged to explore - tests secure base and exploration
2. A stranger comes in and tries to interact with child - tests stranger anxiety
3. The caregiver leaves the child and stranger together - tests separation and stranger anxiety
4. Caregiver returns and stranger leaves - tests reunion behaviour and exploration/secure base
5. Caregiver leaves child alone - tests separation anxiety
6. Stranger returns - tests stranger anxiety
7. Caregiver returns and is reunited with child - tests reunion behaviour

Question 6

What was the aim of the strange situation?

Answer 6

Observe attachment security in children within the context of caregiver relationships
- see how infants (between 9 and 18 months) behave under conditions of mild stress and novelty

Question 7

How did Ainsworth et al get her findings?

Answer 7

Combined the data from several studies, making a total of 106 middle-class infants observed in the strange situation

Question 8

What similarities did ainsworth find in her collection of several studies?

Answer 8

Exploratory behaviours declined in infants from episode 2 onwards
The amount of crying increased from episode 2 onwards

Question 9

What differences did Ainsworth et al find between studies?

Answer 9

There were 3 main types of behaviour observed between different infants (types of attachment)

Question 10

What is meant by secure attachment?

Answer 10

. Not likely to cry if caregiver leaves but can soothe thus anxiety with close bodily contact with caregiver. May be reluctant to leave caregiver’s side prematurely
. Show some distress when left with stranger (moderate stranger anxiety)
. Seek and are comfortable with social interaction. Uses caregiver as a secure base to explore so is independent (high exploration and secure base)
. Enthusiastic reunion behaviour with caregiver

Question 11

What is meant by insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 11

Children who tend to avoid social interaction and intimacy with others

Question 12

What are features of insecure-avoidant attachment in strange situation?

Answer 12

. Little response to separation (indifferent separation anxiety)
. Don’t Seek close proximity on reunion (avoids contact on reunion)
. Happy to explore with or without presence of caregiver (high exploration)
. Low stranger anxiety

Categorised by high levels of anxiousness generally

Question 13

What is meant by insecure-resistant attachment?

Answer 13

. Both seeks and resists intimacy and social interaction
. Intense distress when separated from caregiver and with strangers
. On reunion, display conflicting desires for and against contact
. Low willingness to explore

Question 14

What percentage of infants are in each category of attachment?

Answer 14

Insecure avoidant (type a) - 21%
Secure (type b) - 68%
Insecure resistant - 11%