🟡 Attachment - Strange Situation

Question 1

Who investigated strange situation and when

Answer 1

Mary Ainsworth in the 1970s

Question 2

Aim of Mary

Answer 2

Observe attachment quality of an infants attachment by observing key attachment behabiours

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

Controlled observation of 12-18 month olds

7 epidosdes each 3 mins long and observed through 2 way mirror

Question 4

Behaviours observed

Answer 4

Exploration/secure base behaviour, strange anxiety, separation anxiety and reunion behaviour

Question 5

How many stages of investigation

Answer 5

8

Question 6

All stages

Answer 6

1= mother and infant go into room together
2= mother sits down, child placed on the floor and is free to explore
3= stranger enters, mother talks to them and then stranger tries to engage with infant
4= mother leaves, strange with infant and they play and comfort
5= mother Returns, strange leaves
6= mother leaves infant alone
7= strange returns, tries to comfort and play with infant
8= mother returns, stranger leaves

Question 7

Findings of experiment

Answer 7

• observation indicates there was a distinct pattern in way infants behaved
• researchers able to classify infants into 3 groups
• based on these groups, developed 3 broad types of attachment

Question 8

3 types of attachment

Answer 8

Type A = insecure avoidant
Type B = secure attachment
Type C = insecure resistant

Question 9

Secure base for each types

Answer 9

A = explores but does not come back and use mother as a safe base
B = will use the mother as a safe base to explore their environment
C = infant does not explore

Question 10

Separation anxiety for each types

Answer 10

A = infant shows no sign of distress when mother leaves/ doesn’t notice her absence
B = mildly distressed when mother leaves
C = infant shows signs of intense distress

Question 11

Stranger anxiety for each types

Answer 11

A = Infant is not distressed with the stranger and plays normally when stranger is present
B = wart of stranger when alone but friendly when mother is present
C = infant avoids stranger

Question 12

Reunion behaviour for each types

Answer 12

A = infant shows no interest when mother returns
B = happy when mother returns, joy at reunion and easily soothed
C = child approaches mother but resists contact, rejects/pushes her away

Question 13

Percentage of insecure avoidant attachment

Answer 13

21%

Question 14

Percentage of secure attachment

Answer 14

66%

Question 15

Percentage of insecure resistant attachment

Answer 15

13%

Question 16

How does attachment differ according to ainsworth

Answer 16

Attachment differences depended upon the sensitivity of the mother and their responsiveness
Sensitive mothers generally had infants who were securely attached
Less sensitive mothers and less responsive mothers had babies who were more likely to be insecurely attached

Question 17

Negatives of the experiment

Answer 17

• ethical concern for child
• reliability may be a concern and also validity of experiment