Ainsworth strange situation

Question 1

What are the three types of attachment

Answer 1

• Secure
• Insecure-avoidant = have trouble trusting others and have a negative view of relationships and minimize the importance of close relationships
• Insecure - resistant = insecure about their relationship with others and seek greater proximity to caregiver

Question 2

What was Ainsworth’s examining in the strange situation?

Answer 2

• Proximity seeking - infants with good attachment will stay close to their mother
• Exploration and secure base behaviour - good attachments allow confidence in exploring
• Stranger anxiety - sign of attachment is showing anxiety around strangers
• Separation anxiety - sign of attachment is to protest at separation from caregiver
• Response to reunion - how a child reacts upon reunion with caregiver

Question 3

What are the stages in Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 3

• stages 1+2 = mum and infant enter room and infant explores
• stage 3 = mum is still in the room and stranger enters
• stage 4 = mum leaves and stranger interacts with infant
• stage 5 = mum returns and reunion behaviour is recorded
• stage 6 = mum leaves and infant is alone separation protest is recorded
• stage 7 = the stranger returns and stranger anxiety is recorded
• stage 8 = mum re-enters and stranger leaves reunion behaviour is recorded

Question 4

What were the findings of Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 4

• Secure - 70% - infants played contently with mothers present, sough comfort during reunion, moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety
• Insecure-avoidant - 15% - infants ignored mothers presence, little stress when mother left and ignored when she returned, little stranger anxiety shown
• Insecure-resistant - 15% - explored less and stayed with mother, distressed by mother leaving but would still fight her contact