Mary Ainsworth

Question 1

Strange situation aim

Answer 1

To observe key attachments in behaviour and use these observations as a way of assessing the quality of a child’s attachment with their caregiver

Question 2

Strange situation method

Answer 2

Babies ages 9-18 months, controlled observation, 9ftx9ft room, marked grids to help record infants movements, w way mirror so researchers can observe. Episodes exposed children

Question 3

Behaviours used as measures of attachment

Answer 3

Proximity seeking, exploration and secure base behaviour, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, reunion response

Question 4

Proximity seeking

Answer 4

Infant stays close to caregiver

Question 5

Exploration and secure base behaviour

Answer 5

Child is confident to explore using care giver as a place of safety to return to

Question 6

Stranger anxiety

Answer 6

Child shows anxiety when a stranger approaches

Question 7

Separation anxiety

Answer 7

Child shows anxiety and protests when separated from caregiver

Question 8

Reunion response

Answer 8

How the infant behaves when caregiver returns after separation

Question 9

How many episodes in strange situation

Answer 9

7

Question 10

Episode 1

Answer 10

Parent and infant alone - exploration and secure base Bahri our

Question 11

Episode 2

Answer 11

Stranger enters, silent at first, then talks to caregiver and interacts with child - stranger anxiety

Question 12

Episode 3

Answer 12

1st separation from caregiver, stranger interacts w infant - separation and stranger anxiety

Question 13

Episode 4

Answer 13

First reunion, caregiver returns, stranger leaves - reunion behaviour

Question 14

Episode 5

Answer 14

2nd separation baby left in doom - separation anxiety

Question 15

Episode 6

Answer 15

Continuation of separation - stranger enters and interacts with infant - separation and stranger anxiety

Question 16

Episode 7

Answer 16

2nd reunion caregiver enters and picks up infant, stranger leaves - reunion behaviour

Question 17

3 patterns of behaviour

Answer 17

Secure - type b
Insecure avoidant - type a
Insecure resistant - type c

Question 18

Secure

Answer 18

Regular proximity seeking, explore happily, accept comfort, moderate separation/stranger anxiety

Question 19

Insecure avoidant

Answer 19

Avoids interactions with caregiver after they come back, explores freely, no secure base behaviour, doesn’t seek comfort and no stranger/ separation anxiety

Question 20

Insecure resistant

Answer 20

Seeks and resist intimacy, little exploration, high stranger/ sep anxiety, resists comfort

Question 21

Strength ainsworth strange situation

Answer 21

Covert operation, child doesn’t know they’re being looked at, no demand characteristics, good internal validity
Designed cleverly, range of separations in dif situations
Observation carefully controlled, behaviour categories ensured higher inter-observer reliability, who was observing doesn’t affect a type, strength and consistency reliability

Question 22

Weakness ainsworth strange situation

Answer 22

Lab - low ecological validity
Not all children fit into 3 categories - insecure disorganised type d mix of resistant and avoidant. This attachment type wasn’t accounted for in ainsworth research
Isn’t culture bound, westernised design, not accurate picture of children in other cultures