Attachment- Strange Situation Flashcards
Who developed the strange situation
Mary Ainsworth (1978)
Aim of the strange situation
To investigate the quality of attachment between a caregiver and child
Original strange situation participants
106 middle class, American infants and their mothers
Strange situation research method
Controlled and structured observation of children aged 12 to 18 months.
How did Ainsworth measure the quality of attachment
Secure base behaviour
Separation distress
Stranger anxiety
Reunion behaviour
Secure base behaviour
Child can explore an environment and use their caregiver as a base to return to when stressed or anxious.
Strange situation method/ episodes
Each three minute ‘episodes’ of the observation
1. Mother and child in a playroom with the baby exploring.
2. Stranger enters and talks to mother and baby
3. Mother leaves
4. Mother returns and stranger leaves
5. Mother leaves child alone
6. Stranger returns to comfort baby
7. Mother returns and stranger leaves.
What were the children assigned after the strange situation
Attachment types- A, B or C
Findings of the strange situation
Babies reacted similarly in the observation. They were either secure or insecure.
Attachment types identified by Ainsworth
Secure
Insecure resistant
Insecure avoidant
Secure attachment type (B)
70% of children
Use mother as secure base
Moderate distress when mother leaves
Moderate stranger anxiety
Easily comforted by mother
Insecure resistant attachment type (C)
15% of children
Explores less than other types, seeks more proximity to mother
Shows intense distress when mother leaves
Severe stranger anxiety
Resists contact with mother though they approach, resisting comfort from her.
Insecure avoidant attachment type (A)
15% of children
Explore freely, do not have a secure base
Show little distress when mother leaves
Shows little to no stranger anxiety
Shows little interest when mother returns
