Ainsworth-Strange situation

Question 1

A01

What was the aim of Ainsworths ‘strange situation’?

Answer 1

Aim-observe key attachment behaviours to assess the quality of baby’s attachment to caregivers

Question 2

A01

Describe Ainsworths Stranger situation ‘Procedure

Answer 2

• SS is controlled observation designed to measure security of attachments baby displays towards caregiver
• takes place in room with controlled conditions(laboratory)
  >used two way mirror & cameras to observe babys behaviour

Question 3

A01

Outline Behaviours used to judge attachments in procedure

Answer 3

• * Proximity seeking- baby with good quality attachmet stays close to caregiver
• Exploration & secure-base behaviour-good attachment enables baby to feel confident to explore , using caregiver as safe base

* Strange anxiety-closely attached babes display anxiety when stranger approaches
* Separation anxiety-closely attached protest at seperation from the caregiver
* Response to reunion-securely attached greet caregivers return with pleasure

Question 4

A01

Outline 7 episodes , in the procedure

Answer 4

Beginnining: Caregiver & baby enter an unfamiliar room
1. Baby encouraged to explore -tests exploration & safe base
2. stranger comes in, approaches baby-tests stranger anxiety
3. caregiver leaves baby & stranger together-tests separation & stranger anxiety
4. Cargiver returns & stranger leaves-tests reunion behaviour & exploration/safe base
5. Caregiver leaves baby alone-tests separation anxiety
6. Stranger returns- Tests stranger anxiety
7. Caregiver returns & reunited with baby -Tests reunion behaviour

Question 5

A01

What are the 3 Types of attachments(AINSWORTH)

Answer 5

Ainsworth Identified 3 main types of attachment:
* Secure attachment( Tybe B)
* Insecure-avoidant attachment( Type A)
* Insecure resistant attachment ( Type C)

Question 6

A01

outline findings -Secure attachment(B)

Answer 6

These babies explore happily, regularly go back to caregiver(proximity seeking& secure base behaviour)
> show moderate signs of separation & stranger anxiety
>securely attached babies accept comfort from caregiver in reunion stage
>60-75% BABIES CLASSIFIED AS SECURE

Question 8

A01

Insecure-avoidant(A)

Answer 8

Babies explore freely
>not seek proximity/ secure base behaviour
>show no reaction when caregiver leaves
>makes little effort to make contact when caregiver returns & avoids contact
>20-25% babies insecure-avoidant

Question 8

A01

Insecure-resistant(C)

Answer 8

Babies seek greater proximity than others, explore less
> show high levels of stranger & separation distress
> resist comfort when reunited with caregiver
> 3% babies insecure-resistant

Question 9

A03

Explain how strange situation has good inter rater reliability-
Bick et al

Strength

Answer 9

> Bick et al-tested inter rater relaibility for a team of trained observers & found high level of inter-rater-reliability due to procedure taking place under controlled conditions-high control over variabes
behaviours- proximity seeking & stranger anxiety easy to observe because they involve larege movements
shows not based on subjective judgements

Question 10

A03

Explain why the study lacks population validity & Culture bound

Answer 10

P = The study lacks population validity.
E = based on Western culture carried out in America.
all p were MC mothers so results dont generalise to all cultures
E =suffers from cultural bias,
less able to generalise findings to other cultures-due to the individualist-collectivist divide between Western & Eastern countries &, cultural differences in upbringing /experiences of child
L = findings culture bound & lack ecological validity, as results only generalised to research settings

Question 11

A03

Explain why the study lacks ecological validity(carried out in lab) as a limitation of Ainsworths strange situation

Answer 11

P = The study lacks ecological validity.
E = conducted lab setting, all variables highly controlled.
E =although was control over confounding & extraneous variables
This is not representative of real life so lacks mundane realism

Question 12

A03

Explain why ethical issues were a limitation of Ainsworths strange situation

Answer 12

P = There are ethical issues
E = 20% of children cried desperately at one point.
E =ethically inappropriate, as large proportion of p could experience psychological harm/long term damage to child.
L =Important to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to assess whether ethical costs smaller than benefits of knowledge within this subject field.

Question 13

A03

Other attachment types-Main & Solomon-type D

Answer 13

ther possibilit Ainsworth’s classification system of attachment types isincomplete
Main & solomon identified a 4th category of attachment - a disorganised type D attachment- a mix of resistant & avoidant behaviours
but Type D babies are unusual & experienced some form of severe neglect & abuse - most will go on to develop psychological disorders by adulthood
suggested Ainsworth overlooked a fourth type.