The Strange Situation

Question 1

Who devised the strange situation

Answer 1

Mary ainsworth in the 1970s

Question 2

Who was ainsworth a student/collegue of

Answer 2

Bowlby

Question 3

What did ainsworth believe

Answer 3

The quality of care provided by the primary caregiver was most important when forming an attachment- called sensitive responsiveness

Question 4

What does sensitive responsiveness examine

Answer 4

How a mother responds to her child’s signals- social releasers (maternal sensitivity)

Question 5

What did ainsworth propose

Answer 5

Babies and toddlers aged 12-18 months divide into 3 attachment types

Question 6

What are the three attachment types

Answer 6

1) TYPE A- insecure avoidant
2) TYPE B- secure
3) TYPE C
- insecure ambivalent/resistsnt

Question 7

What did each attachment type show

Answer 7

Set behaviours associated with the type, type a would all have similar characteristics

Question 8

what 5 key behaviours where measured in the strange situation

Answer 8

1) secure base
2) proximity seeking
3) separation anxiety
4) joy at reunion
5) stranger anxiety

Question 9

how is the strange situation conducted

Answer 9

Laboratory based participant observation

Question 10

Explain the strange situation procedure

Answer 10

• child olaced in an unfamiliar room with pcg and reactions where assessed
• 8 episodes lasting 3 minutes
• after procdueure child could be classified as type A,B or C

Question 11

Type A- insecure avoidant characteristics

Answer 11

• no proximity seeking
• no distress
• no stranger anxiety
• no joy at reunion
• 15% classed as type A

Question 12

Type B- secure characteristics

Answer 12

• plays independently
• proximity seeking
• regulary return to secure base
• show separation anxiety
• stranger anxiety
• requires and accepts comfort
• 70% classed as type B

Question 13

Type C- insecure ambivalent charecteristics

Answer 13

• explores much less
• no secure base
• intensely seek proximity
• separation anxiety
• stranger anxiety
• wants joy at reunion
• 15% classed as type c

Question 14

Type D- insecure disorganised explanation/charecteristics

Answer 14

Proposed by main and Solomon in 1986
For those who didn’t fit A-C

Question 15

Weaknesses of strange situation

Answer 15

• reductionist: simplifies infants relationship with pcg
• open to demand charecteristics
• invidual differences
• ignores cultural differences
• artificial environment

Question 16

Strengths of strange situation

Answer 16

• replicable: lab, highly controlled
• extends on bowlbys view
• RLA