ainsworth's strange situation

Question 1

what was the aim + method of the strange situation

Answer 1

• to produce a method for assessing quality of attachment by placing an infant in a situation of mild stress (to encourage the infant to seek comfort) and of novelty (to encourage exploration behaviours).
• Both comfort seeking and exploration behaviours are indicators of the quality of attachment.

Question 2

what are the 8 stages of the strange situation

Answer 2

• Mother and child are introduced to the room
• Mother and child are left alone and the child can investigate the toys
• The stranger enters the room and talks with the mother. The stranger gradually approaches the child with a toy.
• Mother leaves the child alone with the stranger, and the stranger interacts with the child.
• Mother returns, greets and picks up the child. The stranger leaves inconspicuously.
• The child is left on his own. (mother leaves)
• The stranger returns and tries to engage with the child
• Mother returns to greet and comfort the child

Question 3

what is the strange situation measuring

Answer 3

• Willingness to explore: does the baby explore the toys and the room independently?
• Separation anxiety: stress is caused by being separated from a caregiver
• Stranger anxiety: stress is caused by the presence of a stranger
• Reunion behaviour: the way the caregiver was greeted on return

Question 4

what are the findings of the strange situation (draw the table)

Answer 4

Willingness to explore:
high safe base - S
very high - IA
low - IR
Stranger anxiety:
high - S
low - IA
very high - IR
Separation anxiety:
high - S
low - IA
very high - IR
Behaviour on reunion:
instantly soothed - S
no change - IA
seek and reject - IR
Percentage:
66 - S
22 - IA
12 - IR
Mum:
loving - S
cold - IA
inconsistent - IR

Question 5

what are the +ve AO3 points for the strange situation

Answer 5

• Control of variables: variables constant e.g. timings across different children/mums

Question 6

what are the -ve AO3 points for the strange situation

Answer 6

• Internal Validity
• Ethics
• Lacks population validity –> Ainsworth used 100 middle class American infants and their mothers.

Question 7

expand on the -ve AO3 point: internal validity

Answer 7

• Demand characteristics of Mum
• Lab setting: baby out of natural environment, is there reaction due to location
• Only measures relationship with mum –> they may not be the monotropic figure
• Isn’t applicable in other cultures
• Baby might be having a bad day

Question 8

expand on the -ve AO3 point: ethics

Answer 8

• designed to gradually increase the level of stress the infant experiences.
• not ethically correct to purposely upset the child