Strange Situation

Question 1

Who conducted research into the ‘Strange Situation’?

Answer 1

Ainsworth (and Bell).

Question 2

What year did Ainsworth conduct the study?

Answer 2

1970.

Question 3

What did Ainsworth aim to study?

Answer 3

Individual differences by using the ‘Strange Situation’.

Question 4

How many infants participated?

Answer 4

106 American middle-class infants.

Question 5

What type of setting was the infants observed in?

Answer 5

A laboratory setting.

Question 6

What was the age of the infants that participated?

Answer 6

12 to 18 months old.

Question 7

How many episodes were the infants observed over?

Answer 7

8 short episodes.

Question 8

What did the episodes consist of?

Answer 8

Events such as the mother and stranger taking turns to enter the room, interacting with the child and leaving the room.

Question 9

What four key behaviours were observed?

Answer 9

• Separation anxiety.
• Stranger anxiety.
• Reunion behaviour.
• Willingness to explore.

Question 10

What is separation anxiety?

Answer 10

The amount of distress shown when the caregiver leaves.

Question 11

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 11

The amount of distress shown in response to a stranger.

Question 12

What is reunion behaviour?

Answer 12

The behaviour expressed when the caregiver returns.

Question 13

What does willingness to explore refer to?

Answer 13

Whether the infant feels like they have a ‘secure base’ to explore the environment.

Question 14

How many attachment types did Ainsworth find?

Answer 14

Three.

Question 15

What were the three main attachment types?

Answer 15

• Securely attached.
• Insecure-avoidant.
• Insecure-resistant.

Question 16

What percentage of infants were securely attached?

Answer 16

66%.

Question 17

In reference to the four key behaviours, what behaviours do securely attached infants express?

Answer 17

• Shows moderate distress when the caregiver leaves.
• The infant is wary of the stranger and clearly prefers the caregiver.
• The infant is easily comforted and soothed when the caregiver returns.
• The infant explores the strange environment while using the caregiver as a secure base.

Question 18

What percentage of infants were insecure-avoidant?

Answer 18

22%.

Question 19

In reference to the four key behaviours, what behaviours do insecure-avoidant infants express?

Answer 19

• Unbothered by the mother leaving (make no effort to interact when with her).
• Show no anxiety when left with the stranger.
• When the mother returns, the infant is unbothered and makes no effort to get close with her.
• The infant is willing to explore and do not orientate towards the mother (use her as a secure base).

Question 20

What percentage of infants were insecure-resistant?

Answer 20

12%.

Question 21

In reference to the four key behaviours, what behaviours do insecure-resistant infants express?

Answer 21

• Very distressed when the mother leaves.
• The infant resists the stranger’s attempts to interact or provide comfort.
• The infant is difficult to console when the caregiver returns; may rush to her but express anger and struggle to be put down.
• Limited exploration of the environment.

Question 22

For securely attached children, what was the caregiver’s behaviour towards the infant considered to be?

Answer 22

Sensitive (responding to their needs).

Question 23

For insecure-avoidant children, what was the caregiver’s behaviour towards the infant considered to be?

Answer 23

Socially distant.

Question 24

For insecure-resistant children, what was the caregiver’s behaviour towards the infant considered to be?

Answer 24

Inconsistent (sometimes rejecting and sometimes over-sensitive).

Question 25

What did Ainsworth conclude?

Answer 25

That the sensitivity of the caregiver had a significant impact on the attachment type of the infant.

Question 26

What are the 6 evaluation points for Ainsworth’s strange situation’?

Answer 26

- Lack of ecological validity.
\+ Can be replicated cross-culturally.
- Ethical issues.
- The classification doesn't fit all infants (attachment type D).
\+ Practical applications.
- Demand characteristics.