Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' & Cultural Variations

• What are the variations in how young children interact with their mothers?

  Some children are independent, while others are excessively clingy.
• What is the focus of Mary Ainsworth's research?

  To categorize early attachment styles of infants.
• What technique did Ainsworth develop to assess attachment?

  The Strange Situation.
• What did Ainsworth's research find about attachment styles across cultures?

  There are similarities and differences in attachment styles between cultures.
• What behaviors indicate the strength of an infant's attachment to their caregiver?

  Maintaining closeness, anxiety around strangers, distress when separated, and reunion reactions.
• What does it mean for an infant to use their mother as a secure base?

  It means the infant frequently returns to the mother while exploring their environment.
• What is the classification system introduced by Ainsworth for infant attachment?

  It includes three types: insecure avoidant, secure, and insecure resistant.
• How do infants with insecure avoidant attachment behave?

  They explore freely, show limited stranger anxiety, and are indifferent upon reunion with their mother.
• What is the behavior of infants with secure attachment type B?

  They feel confident exploring but return to their mother for safety, showing moderate stranger anxiety.
• Describe the behavior of infants with insecure resistant type C attachment.

  They are clingy, show high anxiety around strangers, and have complex emotions upon reunion with their mother.
• What is the purpose of the Strange Situation study?

  To assess a range of infant behaviors in response to different situations.
• How is stranger anxiety assessed in the Strange Situation?

  By observing the infant's reactions to the stranger's presence.
• What happens during the separation stage of the Strange Situation?

  The infant's reactions to being alone with the stranger are recorded.
• What is observed during the reunion stage of the Strange Situation?

  Whether the infant can calm down and seeks proximity and reassurance from the mother.
• What percentage of the sample did secure type B infants make up in Ainsworth's study?

  Approximately 66% of the sample.
• What percentage of the sample did insecure avoidant type A infants make up?

  22% of the sample.
• What percentage of the sample did insecure resistant type C infants account for?

  12% of the sample.
• What does Ainsworth's research suggest about maternal sensitivity?

  It plays a role in shaping attachment types in infants.
• What are the stages of the Strange Situation designed to assess?

  • Infant's willingness to explore
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Reunion behavior
  • Ability to deal with stress
• What is a strength of the Strange Situation as a structured observation?

  It allows for replication and comparison of findings by other researchers.
• What is a positive outcome associated with secure attachment identified in McCarthy's study?

  Securely attached infants are more likely to form strong relationships in adulthood.
• What is a criticism of the Strange Situation regarding cultural bias?

  It may not be appropriate to apply findings from American culture to other cultures.
• What does the term "imposed etic" refer to in the context of attachment research?

  It refers to applying one culture's norms as a standard for all cultures.
• What is a limitation of the controlled setting of the Strange Situation?

  It does not mimic the familiarity of the home environment.
• What alternative perspective challenges the conclusions of the Strange Situation?

  Kagan argues that observed behaviors may reflect the child's biological temperament rather than attachment style.
• What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis find about secure attachment across cultures?

  Secure attachment was the most prevalent type across all cultures studied.
• How does avoidant attachment differ between individualistic and collectivist cultures?

  Avoidant attachment is more frequent in individualistic Western cultures.
• What was a notable finding regarding the differences within studies in the same country?

  The differences within studies were larger than the differences between countries.
• What cultural practice might explain the high number of avoidant infants in Germany?

  The German focus on encouraging independence in children.
• What might explain the strong reactions to separation observed in Japanese infants?

  The practice of mothers keeping their infants very close during the first few years.
• What issue did the Takahashi study highlight regarding the Strange Situation?

  For 90% of infants, the left alone stage was cut short due to intense crying.
• What trend did Simonelli's study find regarding attachment in modern Italian infants?

  There was a noticeable reduction in securely attached infants compared to historical data.
• What does the dominance of secure attachment across cultures suggest about parenting?

  It may indicate a biological drive to form secure attachments.
• What is a limitation of Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis regarding sample size?

  Some countries were represented by only one study, limiting generalizability.
• What did the variation within countries indicate about attachment research?

  There is significant diversity within cultures regarding attachment styles.
• What is an advantage of having a large sample size in Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis?

  It dilutes the impact of poorly conducted studies or abnormal results.
• What cultural bias exists in the Strange Situation's application?

  It assumes that Western cultural norms are superior and applicable to all cultures.
• What is the significance of the support from patrons for the channel mentioned in the video?

  It allows the creator to teach part-time and produce educational content for everyone.