Ainsworth's strange situation

Question 1

What is Ainsworth’s strange situation?

Answer 1

• Observing infant’s response to a series of 3 minute episodes in a controlled observation room to assess their attachment type
• Examples of episodes: Mother and infant in a room (assess exploration behaviour and using mother as safe base), Stranger entering (measure stranger anxiety), Mother leaving (measure separation anxiety), and mother returning (measure reunion behaviour)
• Infants who happily explore and used their mother as a safe base, show moderate separation and stranger anxiety and joy upon reunion would be classified as securely attached
• Infants who show low willingness to explore, extreme stranger and separation anxiety, and resist their mother’s attempt to comfort them upon reunion would be classified as having insecure-resistant attachment
• Infants who happily explore while ignoring mother’s presence, do not show signs of stranger and separation anxiety, and ignore mother upon reunion would be classified as having an insecure-avoidant behaviour

Question 2

What are the three types of attachment?

Answer 2

• Secure
• Insecure-resistant
• Insecure-avoidant

Question 3

What is the exploration behaviour like in each type of attachment?

Answer 3

• Secure: Infant happily explores but returns to mother regularly (safe base)
• Insecure-resistant: Infant expresses low willingness to explore new environment
• Insecure-avoidant: Infant explores and plays happily with toys, ignores mother’s presence

Question 4

What is the level of stranger anxiety of each attachment?

Answer 4

• Secure: Moderate levels of stranger anxiety, infant moves closer to mother using them as safe base
• Insecure-resistant: Extreme stranger anxiety
• Insecure-avoidant: Infant unconcerned about a stranger, shows little preference for mother over stranger, tends to avoid both

Question 5

What is the levels of separation anxiety of each attachment?

Answer 5

• Secure: Moderate separation anxiety
• Insecure-resistant: Extreme separation anxiety
• Insecure-avoidant: Indifferent when the mother leaves

Question 6

What is the reunion behaviour like in each attachment?

Answer 6

• Secure: Obvious joy when reunited with mother, seeks comfort from her and is easily comforted
• Insecure-resistant: May seek comfort from mother but resists attempts to be comforted
• Insecure-avoidant: Ignores mother when reunited and does not seek comfort from her

Question 7

Outline one strength of Aisnworth’s strange situation

Answer 7

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