Attachment: The Strange Situation

Question 1

Who and when was the Strange Situation created??

Answer 1

Ainsworth in 1969

Question 2

What was the demographic used for the Strange Situation??

Answer 2

100 middle-class, American infants & mothers

Question 3

What type of experiment and observation was used??

Answer 3

Lab
Controlled observation

Question 4

Name 3 behaviours used to observe attachment??

Answer 4

• Stranger anxiety
• Separation anxiety
• Response to reunion

Question 5

How many stages are in the Strange Situation??

Answer 5

7

Question 6

What is stage 1 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 6

Mom + baby in playroom for baby to explore.
Tests exploration & secure-base behaviour

Question 7

What is stage 2 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 7

Mom + stranger + baby.
Tests stranger anxiety

Question 8

What is stage 3 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 8

Stranger + baby
Tests stranger + separation anxiety

Question 9

What is stage 4 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 9

Mom + baby + stranger
Tests response to reunion (and secure-base)

Question 10

What is stage 5 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 10

Infant
Tests separation anxiety

Question 11

What is stage 6 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 11

Stranger + baby
Tests stranger anxiety

Question 12

What is stage 7 of the Strange Situation??

Answer 12

Mom + baby
Tests response to reunion

Question 13

How would a securely attached baby react to the Strange Situation??

Answer 13

• Willing to explore playroom with mom as secure-base
• Distress when mom leaves
• Avoidant of stranger alone, friendly with mom present
• Happy when mom returns

Question 14

How would an insecure-avoidant baby react to the Strange Situation??

Answer 14

• Didn’t go towards mom when exploring
• No distress when mom leaves
• Plays normally with stranger present but avoids stranger
• Mother & stranger can comfort baby

Question 15

How would an insecure-resistant baby react to the Strange Situation??

Answer 15

• Intense distress with absent mom
• Fear of stranger
• Approaches mom on return but resists contact
• Cries more & explores less than other 2 types

Question 16

What percentages of each type of attachment did Ainsworth find??

Answer 16

66% secure
22% avoidant
12% resistant

Question 17

What are the different elements of GRAVE for the Strange Situation??

Answer 17

G - Low generalisability (middle class Americans)
R - High reliability (lab)
A - High application
V - High internal validity (lab)
E - Protection from harm (distress)