Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’

• What are the variations in children's interactions with their mothers?

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

  To categorize early attachment styles
• What technique did Ainsworth use to assess attachment?

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

  Similarities and differences in attachment styles
• What behaviors indicate the strength of an infant's attachment?

  Closeness to mother, anxiety around strangers
• What does using the mother as a secure base mean?

  Infants return to mother for reassurance
• What is a key behavior of insecure avoidant attachment?

  Limited distress upon mother's return
• How do mothers of insecure avoidant infants typically behave?

  They show less responsiveness to needs
• What characterizes secure type B attachment infants?

  Confidence in exploring, moderate stranger anxiety
• What is the reaction of insecure resistant type C infants to their mother’s return?

  They may seek closeness but push away
• What does Ainsworth's Strange Situation assess?

  Infant and mother responses in various stages
• What happens during the first stage of the Strange Situation?

  Mother and infant enter a room with toys
• How is stranger anxiety assessed in the Strange Situation?

  By observing infant's reactions to the stranger
• What is observed when the mother leaves the room?

  Separation anxiety in the infant
• What is the focus during the reunion phase of the Strange Situation?

  Infant's ability to calm down and seek reassurance
• What does the term "secure attachment" imply about the caregiver's behavior?

  Consistent and sensitive responsiveness to needs
• What percentage of the sample were securely attached infants?

  Approximately 66% (two-thirds)
• What is a limitation of the Strange Situation regarding cultural bias?

  It may not apply to all cultural contexts
• What does the term "imposed etic" refer to in attachment research?

  Applying one culture's norms to all cultures
• What did Kagan argue about attachment styles?

  They may reflect biological temperament, not attachment
• What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis focus on?

  Attachment studies across eight countries
• What was a key finding of Van Ijzendoorn's research?

  Secure attachment was the most prevalent type
• How did cultural differences affect attachment styles in Van Ijzendoorn's findings?

  Avoidant attachment was more in Western cultures
• What percentage of securely attached infants was found in the UK?

  75%
• What does the term "cultural bias" imply in attachment research?

  Assuming one culture's norms are superior
• What is a limitation of the sample size in Van Ijzendoorn's meta-analysis?

  Some countries had only one study represented
• How does the environment of the Strange Situation affect results?

  It may not reflect a child's home environment
• What did Simonelli's study find about modern Italian infants?

  Reduction in securely attached infants
• What does the dominance of secure attachment suggest about parenting?

  It may be an inherited biological drive
• What does the variation within countries indicate about attachment styles?

  Significant diversity exists within cultures
• What is the significance of a large sample size in Van Ijzendoorn's meta-analysis?

  It increases confidence in overall findings
• What is a potential issue with the Strange Situation's cultural applicability?

  It was developed in an American context
• What does the term "ethnocentric" mean in attachment research?

  Believing one's culture is superior to others
• How does the Strange Situation's controlled setting affect the study?

  It may not reflect natural behaviors
• What is the implication of the findings from the Takahashi study?

  Infants' crying led to shortened observation stages
• What is a limitation of the cultural representation in Van Ijzendoorn's meta-analysis?

  Some cultures were represented by one study
• What does the term "cultural variation" refer to in attachment research?

  Differences in parenting practices across cultures
• How does the historical context affect attachment research findings?

  Family dynamics have changed significantly over time
• What does the term "modern life" imply for infants' attachment styles?

  Infants adapt to caregivers' work schedules
• What is the main conclusion from the attachment research discussed?

  Secure attachment is universally preferred