ainsworths strange situation

• Strange Situation


  Ainsworth's procedure to assess infant attachment.
• Secure Attachment


  Child explores freely, seeks caregiver proximity.
• Insecure Avoidant


  Child explores freely, shows little proximity.
• Insecure Resistant


  Child explores less, seeks greater caregiver proximity.
• Separation Anxiety


  Distress displayed when caregiver leaves.
• Stranger Anxiety


  Fear displayed in presence of unfamiliar adult.
• Reunion Behavior


  Child's response when caregiver returns.
• Exploration Behavior


  Assessed when child is encouraged to explore.
• Moderate Separation Distress


  Displayed by securely attached infants.
• Indifferent Separation Distress


  Displayed by insecure avoidant infants.
• Intensely Distressed


  Displayed by insecure resistant infants.
• Inter-Rater Reliability


  Agreement among observers in attachment classification.
• Cultural Bias


  Study may not represent non-Western attachment styles.
• Controlled Conditions


  Standardized environment for observing infant behavior.
• Proximity Seeking


  Desire to be near caregiver for security.
• Secure Base Behavior


  Using caregiver as a source of comfort.
• Separation Anxiety Assessment


  Evaluates distress when caregiver departs.
• Stranger Anxiety Assessment


  Evaluates fear when left with a stranger.
• Comfort Seeking


  Child's need for reassurance from caregiver.
• Attachment Patterns


  Distinct behaviors observed in different attachment styles.
• Ainsworth's Findings


  Identified three main types of attachment.
• aims and findings of ainsworths

  • aimed to investigate individual variation in infant attachments
  • observed through 2way mirror
  • strange situation test lasts for approx. 20mins, used on infants (12-18mo)
  • consists of 7 episodes (see separate flash card)
  • controlled observation

  findings: 

  • found distinct patterns on how the infants behaved
  • 3 main types of attachment:
  • insecure avoidant, insecure resistant, secure attachment
  • 60-75% of British toddlers = secure attachment
  • 3% = insecure resistant 
• 2 strengths of ainsworths

  • strange situation shows very good inter-rater reliability
  • bick et al found 97% of agreement in one team, this may be because strange situations take place under controlled conditions and because behavioural categories are easy to observe so they were confident infants show high levels of separation anxiety
• 2 limitations of ainsworths

  • artificial in ways that distort behaviour (mums may act different when being observed compared to how they are at home)
  • culturally bias towards westernised ideas of attachment, it was designed by an American psychologist so it could be argued that other cultures have different attachment behaviours like Japanese people
• How many episodes are in Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?

  7 episodes
• What happens in the first episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar room
• What occurs in the second episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Stranger comes in, tries to interact
• What is the third episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation about?

  Caregiver leaves child with the stranger
• What happens in the fourth episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
• What occurs in the fifth episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Caregiver leaves child alone
• What happens in the sixth episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Stranger returns
• What is the final episode of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Caregiver returns, reunited with child
• What is the first category used to judge attachment?

  Proximity seeking
• What does proximity seeking indicate in infants?

  Well attached infants stay close to caregiver
• What is the second category used to judge attachment?

  Exploration and secure base behavior
• How does good attachment affect a child's exploration?

  Child confidently explores using caregiver as safety
• What is the third category used to judge attachment?

  Stranger anxiety
• What does stranger anxiety indicate in infants?

  It is shown by well attached infants
• What is the fourth category used to judge attachment?

  Separation anxiety
• What does separation anxiety indicate in infants?

  It is shown by well attached infants