Ainsworth's Strange Situation

Question 1

Attachment Type

Answer 1

Whether a person is securely, or insecurely attached; the way you relate to others in the context of intimate relationships.

Question 2

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) - Aim

Answer 2

To observe key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing infant-caregiver attachment quality.

Question 3

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) - Procedure

Answer 3

100 middle-class American mothers and their infants (aged 9-18 months) took part in a controlled observation. Interactions between the mothers and infants were observed by researchers through a one-way mirror. There were 7 episodes conducted, each lasting three minutes.

Question 4

What factors was attachment judged on?

Answer 4

Proximity seeking, exploration/secure base, stranger anxiety, separation anxiety, reunion.

Question 5

Proximity Seeking

Answer 5

A desire to stay close to the caregiver.

Question 6

Exploration/Secure Base

Answer 6

Confidence to explore, using caregiver as a base to return to if needed.

Question 7

Stranger Anxiety

Answer 7

Feelings of anxiety when a stranger appears.

Question 8

Separation Anxiety

Answer 8

Degree to which an infant makes a fuss when separated from the caregiver.

Question 9

Reunion

Answer 9

Response to reunion with caregiver after time separated.

Question 10

Episode 1

Answer 10

Infant encouraged to explore.

Question 11

What factors were assessed in Episode 1?

Answer 11

Exploration/Secure Base

Question 12

Episode 2

Answer 12

Stranger tries to interact with the infant.

Question 13

What factors were assessed in Episode 2?

Answer 13

Stranger Anxiety

Question 14

Episode 3

Answer 14

The caregiver leaves the infant and the stranger alone.

Question 15

What factors were assessed in Episode 3?

Answer 15

Separation and Stranger Anxiety

Question 16

Episode 4

Answer 16

Caregiver returns, and the stranger leaves.

Question 17

What factors were assessed in Episode 4?

Answer 17

Reunion and Exploration/Secure Base

Question 18

Episode 5

Answer 18

Caregiver leaves infant alone.

Question 19

What factors were assessed in Episode 5?

Answer 19

Separation Anxiety

Question 20

Episode 6

Answer 20

Stranger returns.

Question 21

What factors were assessed in Episode 6?

Answer 21

Separation and Stranger Anxiety

Question 22

Episode 7

Answer 22

Caregiver returns.

Question 23

What factors were assessed in Episode 7?

Answer 23

Reunion

Question 24

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) - Findings

Answer 24

Categorised behaviours into three attachment types: secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant. 60-75% of infants were secure, 20-25% insecure-avoidant, 3% insecure-resistant.

Question 25

Secure

Answer 25

Happy to explore, but always return to caregiver. Medium levels of stranger and separation anxiety. Seek out comfort in reunion.

Question 26

Insecure-Avoidant

Answer 26

Explore freely and don’t seek proximity and secure base. Minimal stranger/separation anxiety. Doesn’t seek comfort when caregiver returns.

Question 27

Insecure-Resistant

Answer 27

Greater desire for proximity and less exploration. Show huge levels of stranger and separation anxiety, but resist comfort when caregiver returns.

Question 28

Strengths of the Strange Situation

Answer 28

• Highly controlled and replicable, making it reliable.
• Control also reduces extraneous variables, higher validity.
• Bick et al (2012) evaluated inter-rater reliability of the study’s observers, and agreed with 94% of observations.
• Kokkinos (2007) supported Ainsworth. This study is relatively recent, inceasing temporal validity.
• Good application, helping therapists to determine children’s attachment types, and therefore helping to understand them.
• Can also be applied as children with secure attachment types are typically less victimised and bullied, helps advise parents of how to raise their children.

Question 29

Limitations of the Strange Situation

Answer 29

• Controlled setting reduces the validity, as the mothers may display demand characteristics.
• Lacks ecological validity, due to the artificial environment.
• Lacks population validity and generalisation as all participants were American, middle-class families.
• Not very generalisable, only studied mothers and female strangers - results may vary in males.
• Not very applicable to all, as a fourth category was later identified.
• Unethical, infants may undergo psychological harm when being left alone when crying and distressed.