Ainsworths strange situation

Question 1

What was the aim of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 1

To investigate key attachment behaviours as a way of measuring the quality of attachment.

Question 2

Outline Ainsworths method.

Answer 2

-106 American infants (aged 9-18 months) took part.
-controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment of a baby to its caregiver.
-A standardised room was used with chairs, toys and a one way mirror so the psychologists could film and observe the children without being seen.
-The infants were assessed in seven different scenarios, each 3 minutes long.

Question 3

What were the specific behaviours that Ainsworth was looking for in the strange situation?

Answer 3

Proximity-seeking
Exploration/secure base
Separation anxiety
Stranger anxiety
Reunion behaviour.

Question 4

What is proximity seeking?

Answer 4

Seeking closeness with the caregiver.

Question 5

What is exploration/secure base?

Answer 5

Willingness to explore while using caregiver as a safe base.

Question 6

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 6

Anxiety when a stranger approaches.

Question 7

What is separation anxiety.

Answer 7

Anxiety when separated from a caregiver.

Question 8

What is reunion behaviour?

Answer 8

How the infant reacts when reunited with the caregiver.

Question 9

Outline Ainsworths procedure.

Answer 9

-The baby is encouraged to explore
-A stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby.
-The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together.
-The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves.
-The caregiver leaves the baby alone.
-The stranger returns.
-The caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby.

Question 10

Outline the findings of Ainsworths strange situation.

Answer 10

Ainsworth found that there were distinct patterns in the way babies behaved. They identified 3 main types of attachment.
15% were insecure-resistant
15% insecure-avoidant
70% secure attachment

Question 11

What are the three main types of attachment?

Answer 11

-Insecure-resistant
-Insecure-avoidant
-Secure attachment

Question 12

Outline insecure-resistant

Answer 12

-Seeks great proximity to caregiver
-Not willing to explore
-High separation anxiety
-high stranger anxiety
-Seeks comfort with caregiver

Question 13

Outline insecure-avoidant.

Answer 13

-Did not seek proximity
-Happy to explore but do not use mother as secure base
-Separation anxiety low
-Stranger anxiety low
-Did not make contact with caregiver.

Question 14

Outline secure attachment.

Answer 14

-Infants are keen to explore
-Happy to use caregiver as a secure base.
-Moderate separation anxiety
-Moderate stranger anxiety.
-Accepted comfort from caregiver.

Question 15

Which attachment type was the most common?

Answer 15

Secure.

Question 16

Give a strength of Ainsworths strange situation. (outcome predicts several aspects of a childs later development).

Answer 16

This means that Ainsworths research has shown that babies and toddlers assessed as type B (secure) tend to have better outcomes in both childhood and adulthood. In childhood, this includes better achievement in school and less bullying. In adulthood, they will have better mental health. This means that Ainsworths strange situation measures something meaningful in a child’s development.

Question 17

Give a strength of Ainsworths strange situation. (high inter-rated reliability).

Answer 17

For example, Bick et Al (2012) tested the inter-rated reliability of the Strange situation and found that observers agreed on the attachment type in 94% of cases. This means that we can be confident that attachment assessed by the strange situation does not depend on subjective judgement.

Question 18

Give a limitation of the strange situation. (ethnocentric)

Answer 18

One limitation of Ainsworths strange situation is that it is ethnocentric or culturally biased to just the USA. For example, Takahashi (1990) found that Japanese infants have high seperation anxiety and so in America would be classed as insecure-resistant. However, this is not the case and it is because in Japan, mother-infant seperation is very rare.

Question 19

What is attachment type A also known as?

Answer 19

Insecure-avoidant.

Question 20

What is attachment type B also known as?

Answer 20

Secure.

Question 21

What is attachment type C known as?

Answer 21

Insecure-resistant.