Attachment: Ainsworth’s strange situation

Question 1

What is the study of Ainsworth and Bell about? (ABSTRACT/AIM)?

Answer 1

Observing the key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of babies attachment.

Question 2

HYPOTHESIS
What are the four behaviours that were used to judge attachment

Answer 2

• Proximity seeking
• Exploration and secure-base behaviour
• Signs of becoming closely attached (stranger & separation anxiety)
• Signs of securely attached

Question 3

How did they observe the babies?

Answer 3

Used CAMERAS to record the babies’ behaviour.

Question 4

What kind of observation did they do? and what conditions?

Answer 4

• controlled observation
• lab conditions

Question 5

Which researchers observed the key attachment behaviours as a means to assessing the quality of babies attachment

Answer 5

Ainsworth and Bell

Question 6

FINDINGS
How much UK babies had secure attachment?

Answer 6

60-75%

Question 7

FINDINGS
How much UK babies had insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 7

20-25% UK babies

Question 8

FINDINGS
How much UK babies had insecure-resistant attachment?

Answer 8

3% UK babies

Question 9

What were the behaviours of a baby that formed secure attachment? (P.E.S.S. behaviours)

Answer 9

• seek proximity
• explore happily + secure base behaviour
• show moderate separation and stranger anxiety
• accept comfort when reunited

Question 10

What were the behaviours of a baby that formed insecure-avoidant attachment? (P.E.S.S. behaviours)

Answer 10

• did not seek proximity
• explore freely
• did not show separation and stranger anxiety
• did not greet caregiver

Question 11

What were the behaviours of a baby that formed insecure-resistant attachment? (P.E.S.S. behaviours)

Answer 11

• seek greater proximity
• explored less
• showed greater separation and stranger anxiety
• resist when reunited with caregiver