Strange Situation

Question 1

Who did the strange situation?

Answer 1

Mary Ainsworth

Question 2

What is the strange situation?

Answer 2

A controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver.

Question 3

Where does the strange situation take place?

Answer 3

In a room with controlled conditions with a 2 way mirror through which psychologists can observe the infants behaviour.

Question 4

What behaviours will be used to judge attachment?

Answer 4

Proximity seeking
Exploration and secure base behaviour
Stranger anxiety
Separation anxiety
Response to reunion

Question 5

What is proximity seeking?

Answer 5

A baby with good attachment will stay fairly close to the caregiver

Question 6

What is exploration and secure base behaviour?

Answer 6

Good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base

Question 7

What is response to reunion?

Answer 7

Babies who are securely attached greet the caregiver’s return with pleasure and seek comfort

Question 8

What does the procedure have?

Answer 8

7 episodes which last 3 minutes

Question 9

List the episodes and what they test

Answer 9

Beginning: Child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar playroom.
1. The child is encouraged to explore = Tests exploration and secure base.

2. A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child = Tests stranger anxiety.
3. The caregiver leaves the child and stranger together = Tests separation and stranger anxiety.
4. The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves = Tests reunion behavior and exploration/ secure base.
5. The caregiver leaves the child alone = Tests separation anxiety.
6. The stranger returns = Tests stranger anxiety.
7. The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child = Tests reunion behaviour.

Question 10

What are the 3 types of attachment?

Answer 10

Secure attachment
Insecure avoidant
Insecure resistant

Question 11

Describe secure attachment

Answer 11

Type B (60-75%) - (Responsive
caregiver)
These children explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver (proximity seeking and secure base behaviour). They usually show
moderate separation distress and moderate stranger anxiety. Securely attached children require and accept comfort from the caregiver in the reunion stage.

Question 12

Describe insecure avoidant

Answer 12

Type A (20-25%)
(Unresponsive caregiver)
These children explore treely but do not seek proximity or show secure base behaviour. They show little or no reaction when their caregiver leaves and they make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns. They also show little stranger anxiety. They do not require comfort at the reunion stage.

Question 13

Describe insecure resistant

Answer 13

Type C (3%) - (Inconsistent
caregiver)
These children seek greater proximity than others seek and so explore less. They show huge stranger and separation distress but they resist comfort when reunited with their carer.