Strange Situation Flashcards
Who is accociated with strange situation?
Mary Ainsworth.
What did Ainsworth develop?
The strange situation as a tool for measuring attachment type in infants to understand the nature of attachment.
What was the aim of the strange situation?
To investigate and classify attachment type by conducting a controlled observation of how infants aged between 9 and 18 months would behave when put in a condition of mild stress and novelty.
How many episodes were there and how long did the last?
8 episodes lasting 3 minutes each, with the aim of each stage involving particular behaviours.
During the episodes, observations were made of how the infants responding for signs of what?
• Seperation Anxiety
• Stranger Anxiety
• Reunion Behaviour
• Exploratory behaviour
How was data collected by the researchers?
By using a video-recorder and a one-way mirror.
How was each behaviour scored?
On an intensity scale between 1-7.
What were the 8 stages of behaviour?
- Parent and infant play
- Parent sits whilst infant plays (Parent as secure base)
- Stranger enters and talks to parent (Stranger anxiety)
- Parent leaves, infant plays, stranger offers comfort if needed (Separation Anxiety)
- Parent returns, greets infant, offers comfort if needed and stranger leaves (Reunion Behaviour)
- Parent leaves, infant alone (Seperation Anxiety)
- Stranger enters and offers comfort (Stranger Anxiety)
- Parent returns, greets infant and offers comfort (Reunion Behaviour)
What did Ainsworth find from exploring 106 middle-class infants?
3 main patterns of behaviour in infants (Type A,B and C) which formed qualitatively different types of attachment.
What % of infants had secure attachment?
66%
What are some traits of securely attached infants?
- Infants who had harmonious and cooperative interactions with their caregiver
- Mild seperation protests when the caregiver leaves room
- Some stress when Stranger enters room
- Seek close contact with their caregiver
- Uses caregiver as a safe base to explore environments and function independently
What % of US infants were insecure-avoidant attached?
22%
What are the traits of insecure-avoidant attached infants?
- Infant avoids interaction and intimacy with others
- Show little response to seperation
- Do not seek proximity to the caregiver upon reunion
- Explore with/without caregiver present
What % of US infants were insecure-resistant?
12%
What are some traits of insecurely-resistant attached infants?
- Infant shows immediate and intense distress when separated from caregiver
- Seeks and resists intimacy and social interaction
- Upon reunion, infant displays desires for and against contact
