Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is the impact of a caregiver’s sensitivity on a child’s future relationships?
A caregiver’s sensitivity promotes comfort in giving and receiving love
This is based on the hypothesis that a mother’s behavior towards her infant influences the child’s ability to form future relationships.
What characterizes insecure-resistant attachment (Type A)?
Children display intense distress when separated from caregivers but also resist comfort upon their return
This attachment style is marked by clinginess and concern about caregiver availability.
What are the potential future relationship outcomes for children with insecure-resistant attachment?
Limited ability to build and maintain stable relationships
This is due to the inconsistent experiences of comfort and support from caregivers.
What defines insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A)?
Children tend to avoid or ignore their caregiver and show little emotional response when the caregiver departs or returns
These children often do not seek comfort from their caregiver.
What percentage of children exhibit secure attachment according to Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
70%
This reflects the majority of children demonstrating a secure attachment style.
What are the findings regarding insecure avoidant and insecure-resistant attachment in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
15% insecure avoidant and 15% insecure-resistant
These percentages indicate the prevalence of these attachment styles among children observed.
What is the main conclusion of the Ainsworth’s Strange Situation regarding attachment patterns?
High reliability of controlled observations and inter-observer reliability
The study emphasizes the importance of consistent methods in assessing attachment styles.
What is a limitation of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation mentioned in the conclusions?
It is seen as simplistic and reductionist, not accounting for the complexity of infant attachment patterns
The critique highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of attachment.
What was the procedure used in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
Controlled observation of mother-infant reactions through a one-way mirror
This involved multiple observers to ensure reliability.
How long did the observations last during Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
20 minutes
Observations were structured into predetermined episodes lasting approximately 3 minutes each.
What is the primary behavior of secure children during the Strange Situation?
They explore their environment while feeling protected by their caregiver’s presence
This indicates a secure base from which the child can explore.
Secure Attachment (Type B)
-Use mother as a safe base to allow exploration
-Medium separation anxiety
-Medium stranger anxiety
-Joy on reunion
Insecure-avoidant (Type A)
-Not use mother as safe base, willing to explore anyway
-Low separation and stranger anxiety
-No joy on reunion
Insecure-resistant (Type C)
-Very reluctant to leave mother at all. She is not a safe base, no exploration
-High separation anxiety
-Hot and cold stranger anxiety
-Rejects (resists) mother on reunion
Procedure
-Lab setting, 2 way mirror
-8 standardised episodes, 3 mins
1. The infant and caregiver enter a room.
2. The infant is encouraged to explore (tests exploration and secure base behaviour).
3. A stranger enters and talks to the caregiver, then approaches the infant (tests stranger anxiety).
4. The caregiver leaves, and the infant is left with the stranger (tests separation anxiety).
5. The caregiver returns and comforts the infant; the stranger leaves (reunion behaviour).
6. The caregiver leaves again (tests separation anxiety).
7. The stranger returns (tests stranger anxiety).
8. The caregiver returns and reunites with the infant (tests reunion behaviour again).
What key behaviours were researchers observing
-Separation anxiety
-Stranger anxiety
-Reunion behaviour
-Exploration and use of the caregiver as a secure base
Strength- high reliability
High inter-observer reliability. (94) Research was highly operationalised so observers had a clear view of how a securely attached infant should behave. They therefore had high agreement among infants behaviours when rating and measuring their attachments.
Standardisation also means can be easily replicated.
Means study can be generalised.
OE, research suggests Ainsworth overlooked 4th type of attachment
Main and Soloman: insecure-disorganised (type D). Infant do not conform to any of Ainsworth’s original attachment types, show strong attachment behaviour which is often followed by avoidant behaviour.
Suggests her OG conclusions were incomplete and do not account for all attachment behaviours.
Strength- cross-cultural application, Van Ijzendoorn+ Kroonberg (1988)
A: investigate cross-cultural differences and similarities in attachment types. Conducted a meta-analysis, used Ainsworth’s strange situation.
F: secure A most common, insecure- avoidant most common in Germany, insecure- resistant most common in Japan.
Suggests Ainsworth’s study has universality. Study found the same three A types across globally, suggests the procedure can reliably identify attachment types in different cultures.
