Content

• Who developed the Strange Situation procedure?

  Mary Ainsworth
• What was the purpose of the Strange Situation procedure?


  To test attachment security in infants
• In what year was the Strange Situation developed?


  1969
• How did Ainsworth test attachment security?


  By observing infants' responses in an unfamiliar room
• What method did Ainsworth use to record data during the Strange Situation?


  Through a two-way mirror
• What are the key attachment behaviors observed in the Strange Situation?


  • Proximity seeking
  • Exploration and secure-base behavior
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Response to reunion
• What does proximity seeking indicate in an infant?


  It indicates a good attachment to the caregiver
• What is meant by exploration and secure-base behavior?


  It refers to a child's confidence to explore while using the caregiver as a base
• What is separation anxiety?


  It is when a child protests when separated from the caregiver
• What does the response to reunion measure in the Strange Situation?


  It measures how infants react after a short separation from their caregiver
• What are the steps involved in the Strange Situation procedure?


  1. Caregiver and infant explore the room
  2. Stranger enters and approaches the infant
  3. Caregiver leaves, stranger interacts with the infant
  4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
  5. Caregiver leaves, infant is alone
  6. Stranger enters and interacts with the infant
  7. Caregiver returns and greets the infant
• What percentage of British toddlers exhibit secure attachment according to Ainsworth et al. (1978)?


  65-70%
• How do securely attached children behave during the Strange Situation?


  They explore happily but return to the caregiver regularly
• What characterizes insecure-avoidant attachment?


  Children explore freely but do not seek proximity
• What is the typical reaction of insecure-avoidant children when the caregiver leaves?


  They show little or no reaction
• What percentage of British toddlers exhibit insecure-resistant attachment?


  ~3%
• How do insecure-resistant children behave during the Strange Situation?


  They seek greater proximity and show high anxiety
• What might cause insecure-resistant children to resist comfort from their caregiver upon reunion?


  They may be angry that the caregiver left
• What are the characteristics of the three types of attachment identified by Ainsworth et al. (1978)?


  • Secure attachment (Type B):
  • 65-70% of toddlers
  • Moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety
  • Responsive mothers
  • Insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A):
  • ~20-25% of toddlers
  • Little/no reaction to caregiver leaving
  • Indifferent mothers
  • Insecure-resistant attachment (Type C):
  • ~3% of toddlers
  • Huge stranger anxiety and separation distress
  • Inconsistent mothers
• How does the level of separation anxiety differ among the three types of attachment?


  Secure attachment shows moderate anxiety, insecure-avoidant shows little, and insecure-resistant shows huge anxiety
• What is the relationship between attachment type and maternal responsiveness?


  Responsive mothers are associated with secure attachment, while indifferent and inconsistent mothers are linked to insecure attachments