Attachment - Ainsworth 'strange Situation' Flashcards
How did she gather data?
Observational method through a one way screen
How long does the total procedure last?
20 minutes
What is the first stage of the procedure?
The child is alone with the carer. The carer sits and the child is free to explore the toys and the room
What is ainsworth observing in stage one?
Does the child return to the carer for safety?
What is stage 2 of the procedure?
The carer leaves the room
What is the carer observing in stage two?
How the child responds when the care leaves, is separation anxiety shown?
What is stage 3 of the procedure?
When a stranger is present, the stranger tries to talk to and play with the child.
What is ainsworth looking for in stage 3?
How the child responds- is stranger anxiety shown?
What is stage 4 of the procedure?
When the carer returns - reunion
What is ainsworth looking for in stage 4?
How does the child respond when the carer returns, do they seek comfort and are they easily settled?
How old were the children observed by ainsworth?
9-18 months old
How does a securely attached baby act in the strange situation?
Explores room using carer as safe base
Shows moderate distress when Carer leaves room
Shows moderate stranger anxiety
Easily comforted by carer in reunion
How does an insecure avoidant attached baby act in the strange situation?
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
How does an insecure resistant attached baby act in the strange situation?
Doesn’t explore the room
Shows severe distress when the carer leaves the room
Shows high stranger anxiety
Hard to comfort in reunion
What was the aim of the study?
To investigate the attachment types of a sample of American children
What was the method of the study?
100 middle class American infants (12-18 months old) and their mothers were assessed using the strange situation procedure, using the observational method.
What are the positives of this study?
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
What are the ethical issues of the study?
The infant is put under moderate stress.
Ethical positives
Each episode of the procedure is short and if they get too distressed it is stopped.
The caregiver gives full informed consent
Negatives of the study
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
