Attachment: Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Question 1

Proximity seeking

Answer 1

An infant with a good attachment will stay fairly close to the caregiver

Question 2

Exploration and secure-based behaviour

Answer 2

Good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base

Question 3

Stranger anxiety

Answer 3

Distress when another adult approaches who is not the primary caregiver

Question 4

Separation anxiety

Answer 4

Protest at separation from the caregiver

Question 5

Response at reunion

Answer 5

The behaviour when the primary caregiver returns

Question 6

Strange Situation procedure

Answer 6

The child is encouraged to explore. This tests exploration and secure-based behaviour
A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child. This tests stranger anxiety
The caregiver leaves the child and the stranger together. This tests separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves. This tests response at reunion
The caregiver leaves the child alone. This tests separation anxiety
The stranger returns. This tests stranger anxiety
The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child. This tests response at reunion

Question 7

Type A: insecure-avoidant

Answer 7

These children explore freely but do not seek proximity or show secure-base behaviour. They show little or no reaction when their caregiver leaves and they make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns. They also show little stranger anxiety. They do not require comfort at the reunion stage
20-25% of British toddlers

Question 8

Type B: secure

Answer 8

These children explore happily but go back to their caregiver regularly. The usually show moderate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety. They require comfort from their caregiver at reunion stage.
60-75% of British toddlers

Question 9

Type B: insecure-resistant

Answer 9

These children seek greater proximity than others and explore less. They show huge stranger anxiety and separation anxiety but they resist comfort when reunited with their carer.
3% of British toddlers

Question 10

Strengths of the strange situation

Answer 10

Standardised procedure means high internal validity

Has practical application as it has helped parents form better attachments with their children

Question 11

Weaknesses of the strange situation

Answer 11

Not a naturalistic observation as it did not take place in the babies’ homes
It was an overt observation and so mothers may have acted differently to impress the observer (social desirability bias)
It is culturally biased to western standards