Ainsworth's strange situation: Types of attachment Flashcards
When did Ainsworth devise the Strange situation?
1971 - 1978
What was the aim of Ainsworth’s Strange situation?
To see how infants aged between 9-18month behave under conditions of mild stress and also novelty
Key Study: Strange situation
Where did the study take place?
9x9 foot, squared space marked into 16 squares
Key Study: Strange situation
What did the study consist of?
Eight episodes
Key Study: Strange situation
What were the 8 episodes designed to do?
Highlight certain behaviours
Key Study: Strange situation
What were the key features of the 8 episodes?
Caregiver and stranger alternatively stay with the infant or leave
Key Study: Strange situation
What does this enable observation of the infants response?
- Separation from the caregiver
- Reunion with the caregiver
- Response to a stranger
Key Study: Strange situation
How was the data collected?
Usinga video recorder
Infant’s behaviour recorded every 15 minutes
Key Study: Strange situation
What were the behaviour categories?
- Proximity and contact seeking behaviours
- Contact-maintaining behaviours
- Proximity and interaction-avoiding behaviours
- Contact and interaction-resisting behaviours
- Search behaviours
Key Study: Strange situation
How many babies did Ainsworth study?
106 middle-class infants
What is secure attachment?
Infants with harmonious and cooperative interactions wih their caregivers
How did infants securely attached when caregivers leave the room?
- Not likely to cry if the caregiver leaves the room
How did infants securely attached behave when left with the stranger?
Some distress
What would an infant securely attached do when anxious?
seek close comfort to caregiver
How would an insecure-avoidant infant behave when caregiver left?
Little response to separation and do not seek close proximity of caregiver on reunion
