Strange Situation - AO1

Question 1

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 1

Distress when left with a stranger

Question 2

What is reunion behaviour?

Answer 2

Reaction once returened to caregiver

Question 3

What are features Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 3

• Controlled observation
• Laboratory setting
• Two way mirror and cameras
• Measures attachment type
• Series of three minute intervals
• Covert observation

Question 4

What are the steps of the strange situation?

Answer 4

1. Caregiver and baby in room together filled wiht toys, baby encouraged to explore
2. Stranger comes in and interacts with them, then caregiver leaves them alone together
3. Caregiver returns and stranger leaves, the caregiver leaves the baby alone
4. Stranger comes in to comfort baby then leaves before caregiver is finally reunited

Question 5

What are the three types of attachament?

Answer 5

• Secure attachment (type B)
• Insecure attachment type (type A)
• Insecure-resistant (type C)

Question 6

What is secure attachment?

Answer 6

Type B

• 60-75% of British babies
• Proximity seeking: stayed fairly close (showed secure base behaviour)
• Showed moderate stranger separation anxiety
• Response to reunion: easily comforted

Question 7

What is insecure attachment type?

Answer 7

Type A

• 20-25% of British babies
• Proximity seeking: did not show any or secure base behaviour
• Showed little to no separation anxiety or stranger anxiety
• Response to reunion: Did not need comfort

Question 8

What is insecure - resistant attachment

Answer 8

Type C

• 3% of British babies
• Proximity seeking: Stayed close to caregiver, little exploration
• Showed extreme stranger and separation anxiety
• Response to reunion: Resistant to any comfort, esp from caregiver

Question 9

What is the aim of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 9

To reliably assess quality of infant attachments

Question 10

What are the PPs of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 10

100 middle class Americans

Question 11

What is the procedure of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 11

Children were observed trhough one way mirror and filmed then classed as one of three attachment types
Babies are assessed on thier response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited with a caregiver

Question 12

What are the findings of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 12

In original American experiment, 70% secure attachment, 15% insecure avoidant and 15% insecure - resistant

Question 13

What are the conclusions of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 13

Secure attachment is most common. The procedure is still used today and has been used to determine cultural variations in attachment