The Strange Situation

Question 1

What is ‘The strange situation’ ?

Answer 1

The strange situation is a controlled observation which was came up by Mary Ainsworth has revolutionised how we research infant attachment today. It is a technique which places infants in different situations and observes the quality of attachment between the caregiver and infant. 106 middle class infants from America between 9 - 18 months were assessed on stranger anxiety, separation anxiety and behaviour towards the mother.

Question 2

Who came up with the idea of the strange situation ?

Answer 2

Mary Ainsworth in 1970 was most famous for her work on the strange situation.

Question 3

What was the aim of Mary Ainsworths ‘strange situation’ experiment?

Answer 3

To see how infants aged between 9 - 18 months behave under conditions of mild stress. Where they observe key attachment behaviours in means to assess the quality of the childs attachment to a caregiver.

Question 4

What is Proximity seeking?

Answer 4

Proximity seeking is when an infant with good attachment will stay fairly close to the caregiver.

Question 5

What is exploration and secure-base behaviour?

Answer 5

When good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base, i.e. a point of contact that will make them feel safe.

Question 6

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 6

One of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches.

Question 7

What is separation anxiety?

Answer 7

A sighn of becoming attached is for the infant to protest at separation from the caregiver .

Question 8

What are 8 stages of the strange situation procedure? And what did each stage test?

Answer 8

1. The child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar playroom.
2. A child is encouraged to explore. (Tests exploration and secure base)
3. A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child. (Tests stranger anxiety)
4. The caregiver leaves the stranger and the child together. (Tests separation and stranger anxiety)
5. The caregiver reterns and the stranger leaves. (Tests reunion behaviour and exploration/secure base)
6. The caregiver leaves the child alone. (Tests seperation anxiety)
7. The stranger returns (tests stranger anxiety)
8. The caregiver reterns and is reunited with the child. (Tests union behaviour)

Question 9

What is reunion behaviour?

Answer 9

How the mother was greeted by the infant on her return to the room.

Question 10

What would a securely attached child show when a caregiver leaves the room?

(Testing separation anxiety)

Answer 10

They would show distress and separation anxiety if the caregiver left the room.

Question 11

What would an insecure-resistant attached child show when their mother left the room?

(Testing separation anxiety)

Answer 11

The child who portrayed an insecure-resistant attachment would show intence distress if the caregiver left the room

Question 12

What would an insecure-avoidant infant show when their mother left the room?

(Testing separation anxiety)

Answer 12

They would show no sign of distress or separation anxiey when the mother left them room.

Question 13

When a stranger comes into the room how would a securely attached infant react? With a parent present and without.

(Testing stranger anxiety)

Answer 13

The infant would be very avoidant of the stranger when they are alone but when the mother is present they are slightly more friendly.

Question 14

When a stranger comes into the room how would a insecure-resistant infant react? With a parent present and without.

(Testing stranger anxiety)

Answer 14

In both scenarios the infant at all costs avoids the stranger and often shows a fear of them.

Question 15

When a stranger comes into the room how would a insecure-avoidant infant react? With a parent present and without.

(Testing stranger anxiety)

Answer 15

The infant in both scenario’s is okay with the stranger and plays the same whether the stranger is present or not.

Question 16

When their caregiver returns how does a securely attached infant react?

(Testing reunion behaviour)

Answer 16

When the infants caregiver has returned they are happy and positive

Question 17

When their caregiver returns how does a insecure-resistant infant react?

(Testing reunion behaviour)

Answer 17

When the caregiver returns the child does approach the them but resists any contact, may even push them away.

Question 18

When their caregiver returns how does a insecure- avoidant infant react?

(Testing reunion behaviour)

Answer 18

The infant shows very little interest when the caregiver reterns.

Question 19

How does a securely attached infant react with a safe base?

Answer 19

A securely attached infant will use their mother as a safe base to explore their environment.

Question 20

How does a insecure-resistant attached infant react with a safe base?

Answer 20

The infant cries more and explores less than the other types (secure and insecure-avoidant)

Question 21

How does a insecure-avoidant attached infant react with a safe base?

Answer 21

The mother and stranger are able to confort the infant equally as well.

Question 22

What percent of American children are securely attached?

Answer 22

70%

Question 23

What percent of British children are insecure-resistant?

Answer 23

3%

Question 24

What percent of American children are insecure-resistant ?

Answer 24

15%

Question 25

What percent of British children are insecure avoidant ?

Answer 25

15%

Question 26

What did Mary Ainsworth conclude about the strange situation?

Answer 26

• the attachment differences depended upon the sensitivity of the mother (i.e. how well the mother could read her infants feelings and moods)
• sensitive mothers generally had infants who were securely attached.
• less sensitive and less responsive mothers (i.e. those who ignored their infant or were inpatient with them) had babies who were more likely to be insecurely attached.
• a babies attachment does seem to be affected to some extent by the quality and sensitivity of the caregiver.

Question 27

Name the two positive methodological issues with the strange situation?

Answer 27

• This was an effective means of looking at infant’s attachments to their mothers in a relatively efficient way.
• replication was easy: the method has been employed in studies over the world (especially in cross cultural research)