Ainsworth Strange Situation

Question 1

Behaviours of attachment

Answer 1

• proximity to mother
• exploration / secure base
• stranger anxiety
• separation anxiety
• reunion response
• sensitive responsiveness of mother to infant needs

Question 2

What did ainsworth develop

Answer 2

Paradigm method of studying attachment

‘The Strange Situation’

Question 3

Ainsworth 1969: aim

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Ainsworth 1969: participants

Answer 4

106 middle class American infants aged between 12-18 months and their mothers

Question 5

Ainsworth 1969: procedure

Answer 5

• Controlled observation (room with 2-waymirror/cameras)
Procedure:
– In a laboratory, but NOT AN EXPERIMENT!
• 8episodes,eachlastingaround3minutes
– (except episode one which lasts around 30 seconds)
• Data was combined from several studies. In total 106 infants were observed

Thetestingroomwasanunfamiliarenvironmentcontaining chairs and toys
– ‘Strange Situation’
• Five categories of behaviours were recorded through a two-
way mirror
• Every15seconds,thecategoryofbehaviourdisplayedwas recorded and scored on an intensity scale of 1 to 7

Question 6

Ainsworth: 1

Answer 6

Mother + infant in experimental

Question 7

Ainsworth: 2

Answer 7

Mother is passive while infant explores the room

Question 8

Ainsworth: 3

Answer 8

Stranger enters, then talks to mother, then approches infant

Question 9

Ainsworth: 4

Answer 9

Separation episode 1

Mother leaves, stranger attempts to interact with the infant

Question 10

Ainsworth: 5

Answer 10

Reunion episode 1

Stranger leaves, mother greets /comforst infant / then tries to engage the infant in play again

Mother then leaves

Question 11

Ainsworth: 6

Answer 11

Second separation episode

Infant alone

Question 12

Ainsworth: 7

Answer 12

Continuation of 2nd separation

Stranger enters and attempts to engage with the infant

Question 13

Ainsworth: 8

Answer 13

2nd reunion

Mother enters, greets and then picks up the infant - stranger leaves quitely

Question 14

Ainsworth: findings

Answer 14

• generally infants explores the playroom and toys more enthusiastically when mother present

attachment types:

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

Question 15

Type A

Answer 15

Insecure avoidant 
20-25%
High willingness to explore 
High stranger anxiety 
Low separation anxiety 
Indifferent behaviour on reunion with caregiver

Question 16

Type B

Answer 16

Secure-attachment 
60-75%
Moderate willingness to explore
Moderate stranger anxiety 
Moderate separation anxiety 
Behaviour on reunion with caregiver:
- want comfort
- calm
- easy to soothe

Question 17

Type C

Answer 17

Insecure-resistant 
3%
Low Willingness to explore
High stranger anxiety 
High separation anxiety 
Behaviour on reunion with caregiver  - ‘seek and reject’

Question 18

Parents that produce type A children

Answer 18

• neglectful parents
• not sensitive to child’s needs
• not sensitively responsive

Question 19

Parents that produce type B

Answer 19

Sensitive repsonisve

Question 20

Parents that produce type c

Answer 20

Inconsistent parents

Question 21

Ainsworth: conclusions

Answer 21

3 types, ABC

Sensitive responsiveness major actor determining qualit of attachments

Question 22

Sensitive responsiveness

Answer 22

Correctly interpreting infants signals and respond appropriately to their needs
Tend to have securely attached babies

Question 23

Ainsworth: strengths

Answer 23

Paradigm method for measuring attachment

• good reliability
• observations were highly controlled

Attachments types have predictive value

Question 24

Ainsworth: good reliability

Answer 24

Inter observer reliability +.94

Babies tested at 18 months and then retested 6 years later - found to have the same attachment types 75% - 100%

Multiple observes (filmed
~ behavioural categories were clearly designed + operationalised 
Observers were highly trained 

Good test-retest reliability
Reliable over time - consistent measure of attachment

Question 25

Ainsworth: low external validity and population and ecological

Answer 25

Population validity - middle class American infants and mothers Ecolgicla validity : lab setting - baby may be anxious or nervous - respond diff Limits generalisablility - especially to other cultures

Question 26

Main and Solomon 1986

Answer 26

Disorganised or type D attachment Mix of resistance and avoidant behaviours Rare Often experiences severe neglect or abuse Most go on to develop psychological disorders by adulthood

Question 27

Van Ijzendoorn and kroonenberg 1988

Answer 27

A study Investigate the proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant attachments across countries to asses cultural variations Also investigate the differences within the same countries to understand variations within a culture

Question 28

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: method

Answer 28

Meta analysis of 32 Strange Situations in 8 countries 200 babies All selected studies had: - observed only mother-infant pairs - classified infants into 3 attachments (A,B and C)

Question 29

Individualist culture

Answer 29

One which emphasises personal independence and achievement at the expense of group goals - resulting in strong sense of competition UK, France, Switzerland

Question 30

Collectivist culture

Answer 30

One which emphasises family and work goals above individual needs and desires, there is a hgih degree of interdependence between people China, japan, Fiji

Question 31

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: least common attachment

Answer 31

Type C

Question 32

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: most common attachment

Answer 32

Type B

Question 33

Collectivist countries have less of type ___ and more of type ___

Answer 33

More of type C

Question 34

Individualist have higher rates if type ___

Answer 34

A

Question 35

Cultural differences: Israeli

Answer 35

High percentage of resistant type Raised in kibbutz - used to being separated from mother Have inconsistent parenting ~ leading to a resistant type attachment

Question 36

Cultural differences: German

Answer 36

High % of avoidant type Parenst seek independent non clingy infants, they value self -reliance in children and so prepare them for this at an early stage

Question 37

Cultural differences: Japan

Answer 37

High % of resistant types Mothers are present for early years - infant become highly used to always have maternal figure present So have high stranger + separation anxiety and low willingness to explore

Question 38

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: sterngths

Answer 38

Meta analysis = large sample size BUT confounding variables