Ainsworth 'strange situation' Flashcards
Aim
The aim was to observe attachments as a mean of assessing the babys quality of attachment to a caregiver
Procedure
Completed a controlled observation which was designed too measure the security of attachments a baby displays towards their caregiver
Exploration and secure base behavior
Behaviours used to judge attachment
Good attachement means a baby will feel confident to explore
Stranger anxiety
Behaviours used to judge attachment
one sign of close attraction is the display of of anxiety when a stranger approaches
Proximity seeking
Behaviours used to judge attachment
Response to reunion
Behaviours used to judge attachment
Babies that have secure attachments with their caregiver will meet their caregiver with pleasure and seek comfort
Seperation anxiety
Behaviours used to judge attachment
Attachement is shown by protest when seperated from a caregiver
What they did
Stage one and two
They began in a playroom that was unfamilliar to the baby.
The baby was then encouraged to explore the play room- this was to test their expoloration and secure base.
What they did
Stage 3 and 4
A stranger then enters the room and begins to have a conversation with the caregiver and then approaches the child- testing stranger anxiety.
The caregiver will then leave leaving the baby with the stranger- testing the stranger and seperation anxiety
What they did
Stage 5
The stranger will then leave and the caregiver will return- testing reunion and secure base behavior.
Findings
1
Secure attachment- these babies will explore happily but often want to go back to their caregiver, they show moderate seperation stress and moderate stranger anxiety, this was around 65-75% of babies in the trials.
Findings
2
Insecure avoidant attachment-
