Attachment - Ainsworth 'strange Situation'

Question 1

How did she gather data?

Answer 1

Observational method through a one way screen

Question 2

How long does the total procedure last?

Answer 2

20 minutes

Question 3

What is the first stage of the procedure?

Answer 3

The child is alone with the carer. The carer sits and the child is free to explore the toys and the room

Question 4

What is ainsworth observing in stage one?

Answer 4

Does the child return to the carer for safety?

Question 5

What is stage 2 of the procedure?

Answer 5

The carer leaves the room

Question 6

What is the carer observing in stage two?

Answer 6

How the child responds when the care leaves, is separation anxiety shown?

Question 7

What is stage 3 of the procedure?

Answer 7

When a stranger is present, the stranger tries to talk to and play with the child.

Question 8

What is ainsworth looking for in stage 3?

Answer 8

How the child responds- is stranger anxiety shown?

Question 9

What is stage 4 of the procedure?

Answer 9

When the carer returns - reunion

Question 10

What is ainsworth looking for in stage 4?

Answer 10

How does the child respond when the carer returns, do they seek comfort and are they easily settled?

Question 11

How old were the children observed by ainsworth?

Answer 11

9-18 months old

Question 12

How does a securely attached baby act in the strange situation?

Answer 12

Explores room using carer as safe base
Shows moderate distress when Carer leaves room
Shows moderate stranger anxiety
Easily comforted by carer in reunion

Question 13

How does an insecure avoidant attached baby act in the strange situation?

Answer 13

Explores with little interaction with carer
Shows little distress when the carer leaves the room
Shows low stranger anxiety
Doesn’t notice the mother return and may avoid her

Question 14

How does an insecure resistant attached baby act in the strange situation?

Answer 14

Doesn’t explore the room
Shows severe distress when the carer leaves the room
Shows high stranger anxiety
Hard to comfort in reunion

Question 15

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 15

To investigate the attachment types of a sample of American children

Question 16

What was the method of the study?

Answer 16

100 middle class American infants (12-18 months old) and their mothers were assessed using the strange situation procedure, using the observational method.

Question 17

What are the positives of this study?

Answer 17

It is valuable as it provided figures with which we can compare with the findings in other cultures/social classes

It is done exactly the same for each child so the variables are controlled

Question 18

What are the ethical issues of the study?

Answer 18

The infant is put under moderate stress.

Question 19

Ethical positives

Answer 19

Each episode of the procedure is short and if they get too distressed it is stopped.
The caregiver gives full informed consent

Question 20

Negatives of the study

Answer 20

The carer might not be acting as natural as they would at homes but how they want to be seen (social desirability)
This change in behaviour may also effect the way the child acts