Attachment - Ainsworths Strange Situation Flashcards
What is the strange situation?
A controlled observation designed to test attachment security. Babies are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room being left alone left with a stranger and being reunited with a caregiver.
What was the procedure of the strange situation?
A controlled observation measuring the security of attachment. It takes place in a quiet room (laboratory setting) with a two-way mirror and cameras which psychologist can observe the babies behaviour.
The behaviours used to judge attachment included:
Proximity seeking - a baby with a good quality attachment will stay fairly close to a caregiver.
Exploration and secure base behaviour - good attachment enables baby to feel confident to explore using their caregiver as a secure base.
Stranger anxiety - one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches.
Separation anxiety - another sign of becoming attached to protest that separation from the caregiver.
Response to reunion - babies are secure attached the caregivers return with pleasure and seek comfort.
The seven stages of the strain situation:
1. The baby is encouraged to explore.
2. A stranger comes in talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby.
3. The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together.
4. The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves.
5. The caregiver leaves the baby alone.
6. The stranger returns.
7. Returns and reunited with the baby.
What were the findings of Ainsworth’s strange situation?
She found there were distinct patterns in the way that babies behaved and she identified three main types of attachment:
Secure attachment - these babies explore happily regularly go back to the caregiver they usually show moderate separation distress and moderate anxiety. Attached require comfort from the caregiver in the reunion stage. about 60 to 75% of British babies are classified as secure.
Insecure avoidant attachment - these babies explore freely but do not seek proximity or secure base behaviour. They show no reaction when their caregiver leaves and little stranger anxiety. They make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns and may even avoid such contact. About 20 to 25% of British babies are classified as insecure avoidant.
Insecure resistant attachment - these babies great proximity than others and so explore less. They show high levels of stranger anxiety and separation anxiety but they resist comfort when reunited with the caregiver around 3% of British babies are classified as insecure resistant.
