Ainsworth

Question 1

What epercentage of children in Ainsworth’s study had a secure attachment?

Answer 1

70%

Question 2

What percentage of children were insecure avoidant?

Answer 2

20%

Question 3

What percentage of the children were insecure resistant?

Answer 3

10%

Question 4

What can the strange situation tool be criticised for?

Answer 4

It can be criticised for imposed etic

Question 5

Why can the strange situation be criticised for imposed etic?

Answer 5

Because it is based on American child rearing practices and ignores practices in other cultures

Question 6

What is difficult in Germany with child rearing practices?

Answer 6

it is common practice for independence to be encouraged in infants, these infants may show an insecure-avoidant attachment type, but that would be desirable in this culture

Question 7

What is one potential criticism of Ainsworth’s research into attachment types?

Answer 7

It lacks ecological validity

Question 8

Why does Ainsworth’s research lack ecological validity?

Answer 8

Because the research takes place in a controlled environment meaning it may not be appropriate to generalise the findings to real life attachment types as the infant may not behave how they usually do in their natural environment

Question 9

Example of how the infant may not behave as they usually would

Answer 9

The infant may explore the room less than they usually would or be even more scared of a stranger as they feel uncomfortable or shy in an unfamiliar envionment

Question 10

Ainsworth’s strange situation can be praised for being high in…

Answer 10

reliability because it was conducted in a controlled setting (room with a two way mirror) using standardised procedure

Question 11

What was standardised about Ainsworth’s procedure?

Answer 11

Each variable was assessed for 3 minute intervals, therefore the observation can be repeated again in the same conditions in order to check for consistent results

Question 12

What was Ainsworth’s sample?

Answer 12

100 middle class American infants and their mothers

Question 13

What were the four variables that Ainsworth investigated?

Answer 13

Willingness to explore environment, seperation anxiety, stranger anxiety and reunion behaviour

Question 14

Name the first 4 episodes of the strange situation

Answer 14

1- Parent or caregiver enters room with child, child explores for 3 minutes
2- A stranger enters and joins the parent and infant and tries to interact with the child
3- Parent leaves the infant with the stranger
4-Parent returns and the stranger leaves, parent settles the infant