ainsworth’s strange situation AO1

Question 1

what was the aim of the strange situation?

Answer 1

• to be able to observe key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a baby’s attachment to a caregiver

Question 2

the strange situation is a …… …… procedure designed to measure the ….. of …… a baby displays towards a caregiver. it takes place in a room with quite …. ….. (I.e a lab) with a …-…. ….. and/or ….. through which psychologists can …. the baby’s behaviour

Answer 2

the strange situation is a controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a baby displays towards a caregiver. it takes place in a room with quite controlled conditions (I.e a lab) with a two-way mirror and/or cameras through which psychologists can observe the baby’s behaviour.

Question 3

what is proximity-seeking?

Answer 3

• when a baby stays fairly close to a caregiver
• a baby with a good quality attachment with display this

Question 4

what is exploration and secure-base behaviour?

Answer 4

• good attachment enables a baby to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base I.e a point of contact that will make them feel safe

Question 5

what is stranger anxiety?

Answer 5

• one of the signs of becoming attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

Question 6

what is separation anxiety?

Answer 6

• anther sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver

Question 7

what is reunion behaviour?

Answer 7

• babies who are securely attached greet the caregiver’s return with pleasure and seek comfort

Question 8

the procedure has … episodes each of which lasts … minutes.

Answer 8

the procedure has 7 episodes each of which lasts 3 minutes.

Question 9

how was stranger anxeity tested and what episode and how was seperation anxiety tested and what episode? also how was secure base behaviour tested and what episode?

Answer 9

episode 1 baby is encouraged to explore - secure base
episode 2 - a stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby - tests stranger anxiety
episode 5 - the caregiver leaves the baby alone - tests separation anxiety

Question 10

what did ainsworth et al find?

Answer 10

• there were distinct patterns in the way that babies behaved.
• they identified 3 main types of attachment

Question 11

what were the 3 main attachment types that ainsworth identified?

Answer 11

• secure attachment
• insecure-avoidant attachment
• insecure-resistant attachment

Question 12

secure attachment - babies …. happily but regularly go … to their ….. (…..-…… and ….-….. behaviour). they usually show ….. ….. ….. and ….. ….. ….. . securely attached babies require and accept …. from the caregiver in the …. ….

Answer 12

secure attachment - babies explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver (proximity-seeking and secure-base behaviour). they usually show moderate seperation distress and moderate stranger anxiety. securely attached babies require and accept comfort from the caregiver in the reunion stage.

Question 13

insecure-avoidant attachment - these babies …. freely but do not ….. ….. or show …..-….. behaviour. they show …. or … reaction when their caregiver …. and little …. …. . they make little effort to make …… when the caregiver …. and may even avoid such …. .

Answer 13

insecure-avoidant attachment - these babies explore freely but do not seek proximity or sho secure-based behaviour. they show little or no reaction when their caregiver leaves and little stranger anxiety. they make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns and may even avoid such contact

Question 14

insecure-resistant attachment - these babies seek ….. ….. than others and so …. …. . they show …. levels of ….. and …… distress but they …. comfort when ….. with their caregiver

Answer 14

iInsecure-resistant attachment - these babies seek greater proximity than others and so explore less. they show hig levels of stranger and seperation distress but they resist comfort when reunited with their caregiver