Ainsworth’s Stange Situation

Question 1

What was the aim of Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 1

To be able to observe key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a child’s attachment to their caregiver.

Question 2

What was the experimental technique in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 2

Controlled observation

Question 3

Where did Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation take place?

Answer 3

A quite controlled room (a lab) where there is a one-way mirror, where psychologist could observe the behaviour

Question 4

What was the sample in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 4

100 middle-class American infants and their mothers

Question 5

What was Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation designed to measure?

Answer 5

The security attachment that a child displays towards a caregiver

Question 6

What was the first situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 6

Child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar playroom

Question 7

What was the second situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 7

The caregiver takes the infant into the lab and they are left to explore (explanation and a secure base)

Question 8

What was the third situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 8

The stranger enters and interacts with the infant (stranger anxiety)

Question 9

What was the fourth situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 9

The caregiver leaves unobtrusively and the stranger interacts with the infant (separation & stranger anxiety)

Question 10

What was the fifth situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 10

The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves (reunion behaviour and exploration + secure base)

Question 11

What was the sixth situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 11

The caregiver leaves so the infant is alone ( separation anxiety)

Question 12

What was the seventh situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 12

A stranger enters and approaches the infant (stranger anxiety)

Question 13

What was the eighth situation in the structured situations in Ainsworth’s (1969) experiment strange situation?

Answer 13

The caregiver returns and greets the infant (reunion behaviour)

Question 14

What are the 3 attachment types?

Answer 14

-Type A (insecure avoidant)
-Type B (secure attachment)
-Type C (insecure resistant)

Question 15

What behaviour do infants show with Type A insecure avoidant?

Answer 15

-avoid social interaction and intimacy with others
-explore freely, don’t seek proximity, don’t show secure base behaviour
-show little/no reaction when caregiver leaves and make little effort to make contact when reunited
-little stranger anxiety

Question 16

What did Ainsworth find about behaviour infants show with Type A insecure avoidant?

Answer 16

15% of infants has this attachment type.

Question 17

What behaviour do infants show with Type B secure attachment?

Answer 17

-harmonious/cooperative interactions
-explore happily and regularly go back to caregiver
-moderate does ration distress and stranger anxiety
-require and accept comfort in the reunion stage
-easily soothed by caregiver

Question 18

What did Ainsworth find out about behaviour infants show with Type B secure attachment?

Answer 18

70% of infants had this attachment type

Question 19

What behaviour do infants show with Type C insecure resistant?

Answer 19

-seek and resist intimacy and social interaction
-seek greater proximity and explore less
-huge stranger and separation distress
-resist comfort when reunited (react angrily when picked up) but try ways to maintain proximity

Question 20

What did Ainsworth find out about behaviours infants show with Type C insecure resistant?

Answer 20

15% of infants had this attachment type.