Ainsworths Strange Situation

Question 1

Describe Ainsworths research

Answer 1

• controlled observation
• 100 middle class infants and mums
• measure; willingness to explore environment, sep anxiety, str anxiety, reunion beh

Question 2

Describe Ainsworths research procedure

Answer 2

• parent enter w child, child explores 3 mins
• stranger enters w parent, try interact w child
• parent leaves stranger w infant
• parent returns stranger leaves
• parent leaves child alone
• stranger returns
• parent returns stranger leaves

Question 3

Ainsworths findings

Answer 3

• 70% secure, mother as safe base, subdued, avoidant of stranger friendly when mum present, positive when mum present
• 20% insec avoidant, willing to explore, unconcerned w mum absence, avoidant of mum and stranger, unresponsive when mum return
• 10% insec resistant, low willing to explore, intensely distressed when mum left, extreme fear of stranger, clinginess mixed w rejection

Question 4

Ainsworth AO3

Answer 4

Lacks ecological validity

• controlled environment
• not approp to gen findings to real life attachment types s infants may not behave how they normally do in natural environment
• EG: explore room less than normal bc of unfamiliar environment
  *lower external validity

High in reliability

• controlled setting w standardised procedures
• EG: assed each variable 3 min intervals
• Therefore can be repeated again in same conditions to check for consistent results into types of attachment.

RTS by van ijzendoorn + kroonenborg

• repl str situation in USA found consistent results
• 65% = secure attachment, 21% = insec-avoid, 14% = insec avoid
• providing support of str sit as way assessing attachment types