Attachment: Ainsworth's strange situation

• What is the aim of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?


  To observe attachment behaviours in infants and identify different attachment styles
• What was the sample size of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?


  100 infants
• What age range did the infants in Ainsworth's study belong to?


  Between 12-18 months
• What type of observation method was used in Ainsworth's Strange Situation?


  Controlled observation
• What were the manipulated variables in Ainsworth's study?


  Different stages of the observation
• What were the measured variables in Ainsworth's study?


  Children’s reactions to different stages of the observation
• What are the key steps in the procedure of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?


  • Controlled observation in a novel environment
  • Caregiver and child enter a room with a two-way mirror
  • Child experiences mildly stressful scenarios
  • Scenarios include exploring the room, stranger approach, being left with the stranger, and being left alone
  • Behaviours measured: exploration, proximity seeking, reunion behaviours, stranger and separation anxiety
• What is the percentage of infants classified as Secure (Type B) in Ainsworth's study?


  66%
• What is the percentage of infants classified as Insecure-Avoidant (Type A) in Ainsworth's study?


  22%
• What is the percentage of infants classified as Insecure-Resistant (Type C) in Ainsworth's study?


  12%
• What are the characteristics of the three attachment types identified in Ainsworth's study?


  • Secure (Type B):
  • High willingness to explore
  • Moderate stranger anxiety
  • Some separation anxiety
  • Enthusiastic reunion behaviour
  • Insecure-Avoidant (Type A):
  • High willingness to explore
  • Low stranger anxiety
  • Little/moderate separation anxiety
  • Avoids contact during reunion
  • Insecure-Resistant (Type C):
  • Low willingness to explore
  • High stranger anxiety
  • Immediately very distressed during separation
  • Seeks presence but rejects comfort during reunion
• What conclusion can be drawn about a mother's sensitivity in relation to attachment types?


  A mother's sensitivity is a key factor in deciding a child's attachment type
• How does a responsive mother affect a child's attachment type?


  A responsive mother leads to the infant developing a secure attachment type (Type B)
• What happens when a mother is less responsive to her infant's needs?

  The infant may develop an insecure-avoidant attachment type (Type A)
• What is the effect of a less sensitive or more impatient mother on attachment types?

  The infant is likely to develop an insecure-resistant attachment type (Type C)
• What are the strengths of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?


  • High reliability
  • Inter-rater reliability assessed
  • Objective behavioural categories used (e.g., exploration behaviour)
  • 0.94 correlation
  • High external reliability
  • Main et al (1985) support: same children retested over time = same attachment type
  • High internal validity
  • High levels of control in a lab setting
  • Two-way mirrors reduce demand characteristics
• What are the weaknesses of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?


  • May be culturally biased
  • Developed on Western infants with individualistic culture
  • Collectivist cultures may misclassify children (van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg, 1988)
  • May lack ecological validity
  • Not reflective of real-life situations for most children
  • Attachment behaviours stronger in natural settings (Bronfenbrenner, 1979)
• Why should we treat the results of Ainsworth's study with caution?


  Some children may have been misclassified due to cultural bias
• Can we trust the results of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?


  While it has high reliability, results should be treated with caution due to potential misclassification