Strange Situation

• Who developed the "strange situation" to investigate infant attachments?


  Mary Ainsworth
• What was the purpose of the "strange situation" procedure?


  To investigate the different types of attachment in infants
• What are the five behavioral categories examined in the "strange situation"?


  • Proximity seeking
  • Exploration and secure base behavior
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Response to reunion
• How long did each episode in the "strange situation" typically last?


  About 3 minutes each
• What type of observation is the "strange situation"?

  • Controlled
  • Overt
  • Non-participant
  • Structured
• What does Episode 1 of the "strange situation" test?


  Exploration and a secure base
• What happens in Episode 3 of the "strange situation"?


  A stranger enters and interacts with the caregiver and infant
• What does Episode 4 of the "strange situation" test?


  Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
• What is tested in Episode 5 of the "strange situation"?


  Reunion behavior and exploration/secure base
• What type of attachment is characterized by moderate distress during separation?

  Type B - Secure
• What are the characteristics of Type B - Secure attachment?


  • Proximity seeking: returns to mother periodically
  • Exploration: plays and explores confidently
  • Stranger anxiety: moderate distress
  • Separation anxiety: moderate distress
  • Response to reunion: seeks comfort and continues to play
• What are the characteristics of Type A - Insecure Avoidant attachment?


  • Proximity seeking: ignores mother
  • Exploration: explores without checking back
  • Stranger anxiety: mild/no distress
  • Separation anxiety: mild/no distress
  • Response to reunion: ignores mother
• What are the characteristics of Type C - Insecure-Resistant attachment?


  • Proximity seeking: clings to mother
  • Exploration: does not explore
  • Stranger anxiety: severe distress
  • Separation anxiety: severe distress
  • Response to reunion: seeks contact but resists comfort
• What is a strength of the "strange situation" procedure?

  The procedures were carefully standardized and controlled
• What is a weakness of the "strange situation" regarding its environment?


  It is highly artificial and may not reflect typical behavior
• What cultural bias has been noted regarding the "strange situation"?


  It does not work well in collectivist cultures like Japan
• What is a criticism of the judgment of infants' behaviors in the "strange situation"?


  It is subjective and dependent on the researcher's view
• What is a limitation regarding the classification of attachment types?


  Not all researchers agree with only having three classifications
• What is the newly identified type of insecure attachment?

  Insecure disorganized
• What are the practical applications of the "strange situation"?


  • Parental education on attachment importance
  • Emphasizing skin-to-skin contact
  • Assigning key workers in nursery environments
• What is a limitation of the practical applications of the "strange situation"?


  It is strictly limited to Western individualist cultures