the strange situation

• What was the aim of Ainsworth et al's study on attachment?

  To see how infants aged between 9 and 18 months behaved under mild stress and novelty
• What was the size of the research room used in Ainsworth et al's study?

  The research room was a 9x9 foot space
• What were the key features of the episodes in Ainsworth et al's study?

  • Caregiver and stranger alternately stayed with the infant or left
  • Observations focused on separation anxiety, reunion behavior, stranger anxiety, and exploration
• How often did observers record the child's behavior during the study?

  Every 15 seconds
• What scale was used to score the intensity of the infants' behaviors?

  A scale of 1-7
• What were the main findings regarding exploratory behavior in Ainsworth et al's study?

  • Exploratory behavior declined in all infants from episode 2 onwards
  • The amount of crying increased during the episodes
• What are the three main patterns of attachment identified by Ainsworth?

  Insecure avoidant (type A), secure attachment (type B), and insecure resistant (type C)
• What characterizes insecure avoidant attachment (type A)?

  • Avoid social interaction and intimacy
  • Little response to separation
  • Happy to explore independently
  • High levels of anxiousness
• What did further research reveal about attachment types beyond Ainsworth's findings?

  • A fourth type called insecure-disorganized (type D) was identified
  • Characterized by a lack of consistent social behavior
  • Infants may show strong attachment followed by avoidance
• What characterizes secure attachment (type B)?

  • Harmonious interactions with caregivers
  • Not likely to cry when caregiver leaves
  • Seek close contact when anxious
  • Use caregiver as a secure base for exploration
• What characterizes insecure resistant attachment (type C)?


  • Seek and reject intimacy
  • Show immediate and intense distress upon separation
  • Display conflicting desires for contact upon reunion
• What was the inter-observer reliability percentage found in Ainsworth et al's study?

  94% agreement between raters
• What real-world application resulted from Ainsworth's findings?

  • Development of intervention strategies like the Circle of Security project
  • Helped caregivers understand infants' signals of distress
  • Increased the number of securely attached children
• What is a limitation regarding the internal validity of Ainsworth's study?

  Children behaved differently depending on which parent they were with
• What is a potential issue with overt observation in Ainsworth's study?

  Mothers may alter their behavior to appear as good parents
• What ethical consideration was raised regarding the stress induced in children during Ainsworth's study?

  Children were intentionally put in stressful situations
• Why is Ainsworth's experiment considered useful in studying attachment?

  • High reliability due to 94% agreement among observers
  • Findings reflect real-life situations
  • Can be used to explain attachment in practical contexts
• What type of analysis did Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg conduct in 1988?

  A meta-analysis
• What is a meta-analysis?

  It is a statistical technique that combines findings from multiple studies to identify patterns or trends
• What is a strength of using a meta-analysis?

  It has high reliability
• What is a negative aspect of conducting a meta-analysis?

  It relies on other people's research rather than conducting original research
• What characterizes an individualist culture?

  It emphasizes personal independence and achievement
• Which countries are examples of individualist cultures?

  UK, US, and Germany
• What characterizes a collectivist culture?

  It emphasizes the importance of family and shared goals above individual needs
• Which countries are examples of collectivist cultures?

  China and Japan
• How do Somali families exemplify collectivist culture?

  They have communal responsibilities for child-rearing, where the whole community participates in parenting
• What is considered an ideal family size in Somali culture?

  Six or more children
• What is one positive evaluation of the research by Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg?

  • It enhances understanding of attachment behavior
  • Suggests attachment is influenced by culture and upbringing
  • Critiques Bowlby’s theory of innate attachment mechanisms
  • Indicates mass media influences parenting ideas cross-culturally
• What is a limitation of the meta-analysis regarding cultural comparisons?

  • It compares countries rather than cultures
  • Different rural and urban areas have unique subcultures
  • Attachment styles may vary within the same country
• Why is the study considered ethnocentric?

  • It uses a Western method of measuring attachment
  • Designed by an American researcher
  • First tested on American middle-class children
  • Lacks cultural relativism for non-Western cultures
• How does the value of independence in Germany affect attachment behavior in children?

  It may lead to children being less anxious during separation stages