Strange Situation

Question 0

What three types of attachment types did Ainsworth find?

Answer 0

Securely attached
Insecure- resistant attachment
Insecure-avoidant attachment

Question 1

Who did Mary Ainsworth work with?

Answer 1

Bowlby

Question 2

What did Ainsworth provide Bowlby with?

Answer 2

With the concept of the attachment figure as the secure base

Question 3

Describe securely attached infants

Answer 3

The infants have harmonious interactions with their caregiver. They seek bodily contact when feeling anxious and are then easily soothed by their caregiver. They are comfortable with social interaction and intimacy. And they use their caregiver as a secure base

Question 4

Describe insecure avoidant infants

Answer 4

They tend to avoid social interaction and intimacy. They show little response to separation and do not seek proximity with their caregiver on reunion. They show little tendency to either cling to to resist their caregiver. They are happy to explore with or without their caregiver

Question 5

Describe insecure resistant infants

Answer 5

Both seek and reject intimacy and social interaction. They show intense distress on separation with their caregiver and display conflicting behaviours on reunion. These behaviours may include reaching for their caregiver then resisting to be picked up

Question 6

What was the fourth attachment type found?

Answer 6

Disorganised

Question 7

Describe disorganised infants

Answer 7

Lack of consistent patterns of social behaviour. They show very strong attachment behaviour, immediately followed by avoidance or looking fearful towards their caregiver

Question 8

What did Ainsworth want to investigate?

Answer 8

Individual differences between attachment bonds

Question 9

What were the infants subjected to?

Answer 9

Situations of mild stress

Question 10

How was the stress bought about to the infants?

Answer 10

Either separation from the infants caregiver or the introduction of a stranger to the infant

Question 11

The specific situations tested were called what?

Answer 11

Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety

Question 12

How many episodes did the SS conduct?

Answer 12

8

Question 13

What are the first 4 stages of the strange situation and what behaviour is being assessed with each?

Answer 13

Parent and infant play -
Parent sits while infant plays- use of caregiver as a secure base
Stranger enters and talks to parent-stranger anxiety
Parent leave, infant plays, stranger offers comfort if needed-separation anxiety

Question 14

What are the last 4 stages of the strange situation and what behaviour is assessed with each?

Answer 14

Parent returns, greets infant, stranger leaves- reunion behaviour
Parent leaves infant alone- separation anxiety
Stranger enters and offers comfort- stranger anxiety
Parent returns, greets infant- reunion behaviour

Question 15

At which time periods were observations taken of the infants?

Answer 15

15 seconds

Question 16

What type of study was the strange situation ?

Answer 16

Observation

Question 17

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 17

Individual differences between attachment bonds

Question 18

With securely attached infants, what 4 characteristics is the mother more likely to be?

Answer 18

Sensitive, accepting, cooperative and accessible

Question 19

What 4 characteristics are mothers of insecure avoidant infants likely to show?

Answer 19

Rejecting
Unresponsive
Less affectionate
Less attention to infants when entering a room

Question 20

What 3 characteristics of mothers of insecure resistant infants, are they likely to have

Answer 20

Occupied with routine activities when holding the baby
Unresponsive
Less affectionate