Attachment Types: Strange Situation

Question 1

What did Ainsworth aim to do?

Answer 1

Use the strange situation (a controlled observation) to investigate individual differences in attachment style

Question 2

What happens in the procedure?

Answer 2

The child is observed playing for 20 minutes white caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room

Question 3

What happens in step 1 of the strange situation?

Answer 3

Parent and infant are introduced to the experimental room

Question 4

What happens in step 2 of the strange situation?

Answer 4

Parent and infant are alone. Child explores and plays with toys

Question 5

What happens in step 3 of the strange situation?

Answer 5

Stranger enters, talks to parent, then approaches the infant. Parent leaves

Question 6

What happens in step 4 of the strange situation?

Answer 6

First seperation episode: stranger tries to comfort/ distract infant

Question 7

What happens in step 5 of the strange situation?

Answer 7

First reunion episode: Parent enters, greets and comforts infant, stranger leaves

Question 8

What happens in step 6 of the strange situation?

Answer 8

Second separation episode: parent leaves room and infant is alone

Question 9

What happens in step 7 of the strange situation?

Answer 9

Continuation of second separation episode: stranger enters and interacts with infant

Question 10

What happens in step 8 of the strange situation?

Answer 10

Second reunion episode: parent enters, greets infant and picks up infant, stranger leaves

Question 11

How long did each stage last?

Answer 11

Around 3 minutes, less of the child was particularly distressed

Question 12

What behaviours were observed?

Answer 12

• Exploration
• Separation behaviour
• Stranger anxiety
• Reunion behaviour

Question 13

What were Ainsworth’s findings?

Answer 13

Each attachment type has different reactions to the phase of the Strange Situation

Question 14

What were Ainsworth’s conclusions?

Answer 14

There are three main attachment types and they are thought to result for different styles of parenting

Question 15

What are 3 evaluation points?

Answer 15

• Ethnocentric - all American sample
• Demand characteristics - parents act differently, affect validity
• Replicable - easy steps and instructions

Question 16

What are the 3 different types of attachment?

Answer 16

• Secure
• Insecure Resistant
• Insecure Avoidant

Question 17

What are the key behaviours for each observation of secure attachment?

Answer 17

• Use mother as safe base
• Distressed when mother leaves
• Avoidant of stranger
• Postive and happy when mother returns, easily comforted

Question 18

What percentage of infants were secure attachment?

Answer 18

70%

Question 19

What are the key behaviours for each observation of insecure resistant attachment?

Answer 19

• Cries more and explores less
• Intense distress of separation anxiety
• Avoids stranger, shows fear
• Approaches mother but resist contact, may push away

Question 20

What percentage of infants were insecure resistant attachment?

Answer 20

15%

Question 21

What are the key behaviours for each observation of insecure avoidant attachment?

Answer 21

• Explore environment but will not try to interact with mother
• No sign of distress when mother leaves
• Okay with the stranger and plays normally
• Little interest when mother returns, if the infants is upset both the mother and stranger can comfort