Attachment: Ainsworth’s Types Of Attachment TW Flashcards
What is the purpose of ‘the strange situation’ ?
To assess the strength / type of attachment
‘The strange situation’ used what type of observational method?
Controlled observation
What was Ainsworth’s sample when testing the ‘strange situation’ ?
100 middle-class American infants and their mothers
AO3: In what TWO ways could we criticise Ainsworth’s sample?
Ethnocentric (only Americans)
AND
Gender bias (only used mothers)
What four variables were measured in Ainsworth’s ‘strange situation’ ?
Willingness to Explore
Separation Anxiety
Stranger Anxiety
Reunion Behaviour
How did Ainsworth observe the children’s behaviour in each episode?
Through a two-way mirror
How many episodes were involved in the ‘strange situation’
7
How long did each episode last in Ainsworth’s strange situation?
3 minutes
What occurred in the first episode of the ‘strange situation’ ?
Parent enters room with the child, and the child explores for 3 mins
What was the first episode of ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Willingness to explore
What occurred in the second episode of the ‘strange situation’ ?
A stranger enters and joins the parent and infant and tries to interact with the child
What was the second episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Stranger anxiety
How was stranger anxiety measured in the ‘strange situation’ ?
Having a stranger enter the room
What occurred in the third episode of the ‘strange situation’
Parent leaves the infant with the stranger
What was the third episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Stranger and separation anxiety
What occurred in the fourth episode of the ‘strange situation’
Parent returns and the stranger leaves
How was reunion behaviour measured in the ‘strange situation’
By having the mother return
What occurred in the fifth episode of the ‘strange situation’
Parent leaves the child alone
What was the third episode of the ‘strange situation’ measuring?
Seperation anxiety
What is the difference between the 3rd episode and the 5th episode of the ‘strange situation’ ?
In episode 3 the child is with the stranger (measuring seperation + stranger anxiety)
WHEREAS
In episode 5 the child is completely alone (only measuring seperation anxiety)