Strange Situation

Question 1

Who is accociated with strange situation?

Answer 1

Mary Ainsworth.

Question 2

What did Ainsworth develop?

Answer 2

The strange situation as a tool for measuring attachment type in infants to understand the nature of attachment.

Question 3

What was the aim of the strange situation?

Answer 3

To investigate and classify attachment type by conducting a controlled observation of how infants aged between 9 and 18 months would behave when put in a condition of mild stress and novelty.

Question 4

How many episodes were there and how long did the last?

Answer 4

8 episodes lasting 3 minutes each, with the aim of each stage involving particular behaviours.

Question 5

During the episodes, observations were made of how the infants responding for signs of what?

Answer 5

• Seperation Anxiety
• Stranger Anxiety
• Reunion Behaviour
• Exploratory behaviour

Question 6

How was data collected by the researchers?

Answer 6

By using a video-recorder and a one-way mirror.

Question 7

How was each behaviour scored?

Answer 7

On an intensity scale between 1-7.

Question 8

What were the 8 stages of behaviour?

Answer 8

1. Parent and infant play
2. Parent sits whilst infant plays (Parent as secure base)
3. Stranger enters and talks to parent (Stranger anxiety)
4. Parent leaves, infant plays, stranger offers comfort if needed (Separation Anxiety)
5. Parent returns, greets infant, offers comfort if needed and stranger leaves (Reunion Behaviour)
6. Parent leaves, infant alone (Seperation Anxiety)
7. Stranger enters and offers comfort (Stranger Anxiety)
8. Parent returns, greets infant and offers comfort (Reunion Behaviour)

Question 9

What did Ainsworth find from exploring 106 middle-class infants?

Answer 9

3 main patterns of behaviour in infants (Type A,B and C) which formed qualitatively different types of attachment.

Question 10

What % of infants had secure attachment?

Answer 10

66%

Question 11

What are some traits of securely attached infants?

Answer 11

• Infants who had harmonious and cooperative interactions with their caregiver
• Mild seperation protests when the caregiver leaves room
• Some stress when Stranger enters room
• Seek close contact with their caregiver
• Uses caregiver as a safe base to explore environments and function independently

Question 12

What % of US infants were insecure-avoidant attached?

Answer 12

22%

Question 13

What are the traits of insecure-avoidant attached infants?

Answer 13

• Infant avoids interaction and intimacy with others
• Show little response to seperation
• Do not seek proximity to the caregiver upon reunion
• Explore with/without caregiver present

Question 14

What % of US infants were insecure-resistant?

Answer 14

12%

Question 15

What are some traits of insecurely-resistant attached infants?

Answer 15

• Infant shows immediate and intense distress when separated from caregiver
• Seeks and resists intimacy and social interaction
• Upon reunion, infant displays desires for and against contact